Oh, I really enjoy Tracey Garvis Graves's novels. "The Trail of Lost Hearts" did not disappoint! Two excellent characters, with grieving broken hearts, victim of betrayal, and guilt ridden- find each other in a most fantastic, complicated way. Was great! Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars:

This book is about rediscovering yourself and learning to trust and believe in yourself after your foundations were rattled to their core. I appreciated going on that journey with these characters but felt “outside” the book the whole time, never finding a way to really be “in” the book. There is a lot of loss and some sensitive topics in this story, so make sure to check trigger warnings before picking it up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Trail of Lost Hearts
Author: Tracey Garvis Graves
Source: NetGalley
Date Published: March 26, 2024

The Trail of Lost Hearts introduces us to Wren grieving the death of her fiance in a car accident. Wren deals with her loss by burrowing in bed and refusing to participate in life with her friends…for a long time. Wren Waters was always an active outdoors fanatic, but she put that lifestyle aside for a fiance who traveled extensively and had little time to spend with her. But one day, her best friend convinces her that it is time to get up and exercise, showing that while a bit of hiking doesn’t cure everything, it makes her feel normal again. She travels to the Pacific Northwest from Ohio to hike a small trail with a hidden geocache (look it up). It is a form of competition between hikers using their Garmin’s. She meets a hiker named Marshall but blows him off to spend time alone. This turns out to be a big mistake. I’ll say Wren needs some help thinking through her many life choices. In the end, Marshall Henricks turns out to be a good guy who is also a psychologist with his own grief issues. They decide, after great debate, to spend the week together searching for these geotags (a game among hikers) and travel together in a platonic companionship. Turns out a lot can happen in a week. This book takes you through lows, then highs, the twists, then more highs, then REAL LOWS, etc. Toward the end, I was trying to decide how Wren could take one more negative hit in her personal life. Romance seems mighty tricky for our plucky heroine, and you will have to read to the end to figure out if she can turn her life around. #romance #TheTrailofLostHearts @netgalley @stmartinspress #geocache #lifechoices #future #life #family #happiness #sadness #loss #fiction #adult #adventure #outdoors #womensFiction
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I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel. Pub. Date: March 26, 2024.
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I absolutely adored the first half of this book!
However, a little over into half, something happened with Wren that was honestly one of my least favorite things to happen in a book and it set the stage for the rest of the book, but I didn't enjoy that aspect of it at all. I did enjoy the romance that blossomed and everything else leading up to the 50ish percent line but after that, it was just downhill for me! I would still recommend though, as overall it was still a good book!

First thank you to st martins press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.75 stars

Synopsis: wren sets off on a solo trip to geocache however an event at the beginning shakes her. Marshall is another solo traveler who helps out and they agree to team up for safety but will they find more?

What I liked: the writing was very good and I read this book quickly. I really found myself wanting to learn more and loved how she doled details. I also like a story of resetting yourself after a shocking turn of events and this was very accessible. The nod to the solo hiking journey was funny at the start of the book. I thought the chemistry between the characters was believable and was fully invested. However I do have to admit I found the ending a little too happily ever after and wrapped up so quickly. I did take some off the rating due to that. I found Marshall more appealing and loved how he helped wren figured things out. He was definitely written as the ideal man.

It was nice to include the realities that woman need to consider when traveling. So often that is overlooked but made it more realistic.
I did enjoy her writing and am interested in reading more from her in the future.

(rounded down from 3.5 stars)

I loved Heard It In A Love Song, so I was really looking forward to Tracey Garvis Graves’ new book, The Trail of Lost Hearts. And I did love it - for the first half of the book.

Wren discovers geocaching as an activity after a double tragedy collapses her world. After exploring a lot of the geocaching options in her area (Dayton, Ohio), she decides she’s ready for a solo adventure and heads to Oregon for some geocaching in a new location. On her first day doing this, she meets Marshall, who is also geocaching. He winds up saving Wren from a very threatening situation and they decide to team up. It turns out that he’s trying to recover from his own tragedy, but isn’t ready to share the whole story. Wren opened up to Marshall about her history but Marshall wasn’t so forthcoming.

I loved their blossoming relationship: friends to lovers. Wren isn’t ready to commit to someone who won’t be fully honest with her, though, based on past experience. Once Wren returns home, she faces an extremely unlikely situation and that kind of spoiled the rest of the book for me. Once Marshall told his story, it was a red flag for me, because it involved pumping your own gas in Oregon, which wasn’t even legal until August 2023. (I know, because we have visited there often over the years to see family.) So unless this book is supposed to take place in the near future, the background incident doesn’t hold water. Wren also withheld important information from Marshall, once she returned to Ohio, and that didn’t fit with her insistence on open communication.

Still, I enjoyed the book more than not. I loved their explorations of various places in Oregon, some of which I am familiar with, such as Crater Lake.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient, and allowed me to continue with the story even when I could not sit down and read. The audiobook was mostly narrated by Kate Handford, with some of the male sections narrated by Eric Meyers. When I saw two narrators listed, I hoped for a true duet narration but that is not the case here.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves was told with Graves signature ease and intriguing plot points. This is my 3rd book by this author and I have loved every book I've read so far. Graves' writing has an ease to it that relays difficult subject-matter in a way that is non-intrusive while showcasing experiences that have different perspectives than the everyday journey. I appreciate the characters, their development and the humor found within the page of her books. Graves' books are true gems of the genre.

I have read several books by the author and I’ve loved all of them. This novel started out so great and I couldn’t wait to see where it went.

I loved the dramatic reasons for both of our mcs to be on a soul searching trip, and trying to regain and reclaim their lives. They both have had such a tough time of life that it made sense they would be drawn to each other.

It just wasn’t executed well, and I was disappointed. 😞

This started out as romance therapy with a whole lot of sex at the half way point and ended with email confessions, confrontations, and, of course, a perfect little happy ending.

I don’t know. It was just so unrealistic and cheesy to me. I’m used to Graves’s novels having more depth and intrigue, I guess? I ended up trying to get through this as fast as I could.

Some will love the spice and cheesy romance here. It just wasn’t for me.

Side note: This has no effect on my rating, but I couldn’t, in good conscience, not say it after reading this novel. Skyline chili is DISGUSTING. Why is it sweet? Chili should not be sweet! 🤮

4.25/5 stars

This is my second Graves book, and I must say that I’m enjoying her writing.

Wren Waters, at 34 and living in Dayton, OH, receives back-to-back life-changing blows that she didn’t see coming and falls into a mind-numbing depression. When her best friend succeeds in getting her out for a hike, she discovers geocaching and re-enters the world. On a trail of a week-long geocaching trip in Oregon, she meets Marshall Hendricks, a psychologist on a break who is also recovering from a past tragedy. When Wren encounters a threat along the trail, the two decide for safety's sake to buddy up for the remainder of their trail trips. As Wren begins to trust Marshall more, she opens up about her heartbreaks, but unfortunately, he shuts down about his instead. As the two grow intimately closer, the clock is ticking for them to return to their respective worlds…could there be a future in a long-distance relationship when they both have issues to work through?

This was a well-written, insightful look at two struggling people who find a like-soul in the other. Toward the end of the book, there is a twist, and the way it is approached/handled by both Wren and Marshall shows a growth and maturity that the reader has been rooting for all along.

Very well done.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing the free early arc of The Trail of Lost Hearts for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves is a heartwarming blend of adventure, romance, and self-discovery. Wren Waters embarks on a solo geocaching quest in Oregon to escape some devastating blows. On a trail, she finds unexpected companionship in the form of psychologist Marshall Hendricks, on his own, less obvious journey. As the two pair up to geocache together, their bond deepens... and if you pay attention, the universe will send you exactly what you need. A beautiful story that reminds us of the beauty of human connection.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Tracey Garvis Graves for an advanced digital copy of this book. Get ready for this to publish soon on 3.26.24

An emotional love story perfect for fans of Happiness for Beginners. Centered around themes of grief, moving on after heartbreak and finding yourself, I laugh, cried and smiled throughout the story. I also found the geocaching angle very unique (did not know that was a real thing) and am always a fan of watching two strangers become friends and then ultimately something more. An excellent listen if you love audiobooks!

Read if you like:
-Strangers to lovers
-Self discovery
-Overcoming grief
-Outdoor adventures

What a beautiful journey! I loved Wren and her story to bits. She was so relatable, raw and genuine that I felt every emotion with her.
Life throws a curveball in Wren's direction that plunges her in deep end. To get out of the funk she wanders off to another state for geocaching. There she meets Marshall on her first hike.
Marshall is also running away from his demons. Together they team up for geocaching but they didn't know that while searching for caches they will heal each other too. You definitely need to read this to know are they brave enough to take this further.
It's not your typical romance but so much more. It's a journey of a strong broken person that will give you all the feels ❤️

At 34 Wren Waters thought she had her future all mapped out. She was engaged to charming guy named Rob, ran her own social media marketing business and enjoyed a close knit group of girlfriends. One day an unimaginable tragedy strikes and Wren’s entire world is turned upside down. Stuck in bed with barely enough energy to face the day, Wren finally decides what she needs is a geocaching trip. Once an avid hiker and nature lover, Wren has discovered a hobby that provides fresh air and a challenge to get her mind off her troubles. She plans a trip to Oregon and on the trail teams up with a fellow geocacher who turns out to be a handsome psychologist named Marshall. He literally saves the day and provides a shoulder to cry on. Feeling rejuvenated, the universe has provided the perfect partner to pull Wren from the hazy world she has occupied for months. Marshall and Wren share instant chemistry and even though they are both battling their own demons, they spend a glorious week in their own vacation bubble. As full as her heart feels, Wren cannot ignore that Marshall is holding back, and she will never again let these boxes go unchecked. The young couple must learn they have to set themselves free before they can start over again. A beautiful story of discovering love, friendship and forgiveness. I have adored all of this author’s books and this one is a simple, well written story that grabbed my heart and my imagination. Releases March 26 2024!

Surprise Pregnancy Mars Otherwise Excellent Romance Tale. This is one of those types of romance tales that is going to be divisive in a couple of different ways, but the biggest is that there is a surprise pregnancy around the 50% mark at all. Which comes completely out of the blue - there is not one iota of a hint that this character may be interested in having kids some day *at all*, then *BAM*, pregnant. Which from reading other reviews, even those who *do* have kids don't always enjoy this particular type of surprise. Much less the childfree or childless.

Outside of the surprise pregnancy though - which *does* dominate the back half of the book, though there *is* some solid character development despite/ through the pregnancy - this was actually a strong book featuring some atypical angles (such as geocaching) and some solid characterization of grief and loss in various forms and through various backgrounds.

Overall a strong tale that perhaps could have been stronger with a different back half, but which many will find perfectly solid as is. Very much recommended.

This was a tale of two halves.

I really enjoyed the first half of the book. I liked the geocaching aspect. The outdoors. The adventures. Then there was a twist in the second half (takes place right around 60%) that I just kind of rolled my eyes at. It was the major focus of the second half of the book. I get what it was meant to do, but it just didn't work for me.

This book had potential. It just kind of fell flat for me. I don't think I'd recommend this to others.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest review.

Wren and Marshall are two broken hearted people. Wren has decided to geocache in Oregon as she has done so much in Ohio. She needs a change of pace and to find out where her life went wrong. Marshall lives in Oregon and needs to escape his life. On the trail these two meet. She's leery and he's just easy to talk to. As they decide to visit the same locations, Wren opens up about her circumstances but Marshall is still in a denial stage. She needs all the boxes to be checked and he is having a problem. Off she goes back to Ohio. Another curve ball is thrown Wren's way. Can Wren and Marshall find their way back to each other? With the help of family and friends, a HEA is possible.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an arc of The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves. Wren and Marshall meet while geocaching in Oregon while they are both on the a solo vacation. Other the next week, they do more hiking and geocaching. They are both hurt, guarded people and learn to open up to each other and help each other through their individual hard times. It is a cute story and an easy romcom read.

Good read by Tracey Garvis Graves. She elevates women's fiction with her writing style. Is there a smidgen of romance? Sure. But the sentences are lovely to read and I enjoy the characters she creates. Everything comes together in the end to follow what you know is coming but not necessarily in the way you thought it would. I've read this author's work since I first read The Girl He Used to Know. The book is a good change of pace after thrillers or heavy books, though it certainly isn't what I would call a light read. It is easy to get lost in the pages of this book.

This was a wild ride and took me through a roller coaster of emotions. In the beginning, I wasn't sure that I'd finish the book it wasn't a fast start and I wasn't sure where things were going. I continued on and very quickly there was a twist I never saw coming. At that point I was very invested. Things were moving fast and a lot was happening that kept me hooked. But then once Marshall and Wren teamed up to geocache together, things began to slow down and there were some points where Wren's actions made no sense.

I didn't feel any chemistry between her and Marshall AT ALL for the first half of the book. He was giving basically nothing while she poured her out her soul. Honestly, I was very annoyed with her when she developed feelings for him so quickly after all that she'd been through. I kind of hoping that the book wouldn't be heading toward an HEA because it wasn't making any sense. Before her flight back home, she did call him out on some things and I felt a lot better. BUT, things changed after she returned home (there's another twist her that I did NOT see coming at all) and months later he begins to email her out of the blue. The emails are what brought the story home for me. Marshall's emails explained SO much and my heart broke for him.

Part of me wishes that this story was told from the POV of both Marshall and Wren. Knowing where Marshall's head was would have helped with the romantic build up so much and would have helped the first 40% of the book. I'm SO glad I kept going because it was very much worth it! There were some really great themes and revelations throughout this book surrounding grief, guilt, complex feelings, and second chances/love after loss.

Content warnings: attempted sexual assault, gun violence

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary romance📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A heartbreaking romance that’s on the more serious side

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Hiking/ geocaching
Themes of grief and healing
PCT setting
Emotional romances
Second chances
Eat, Pray, Love

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
All the outdoor descriptions, I really felt like I was there with them

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
I didn’t love how one of the “twists” was handle, it felt a little unnecessary