Member Reviews
What a great story. It felt like I was reading a diary into someone’s life. It is very readable and I think will be quite popular when it is published. Tracey Garvis Graves ’s writing style is very unique and an absolute joy to dive into!
A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book! I was a big fan of THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW, so I was so excited read THE TRAIL OF LOST HEARTS
early.
This book is raw, deep, emotional, and introspective, with a compelling storyline, lovable characters, and smart dialogue that really helps to develop the characters and their relationships. I was completely immersed in and captivated by the story and the characters’ situations. And Marshall may be my new favorite MMC.
There is one really big aspect of the story that I can’t review because it’s a spoiler; but I felt it was explored with care and grace, adding layers to the characters and everything they had to work through together.
I can’t wait for readers to meet Wren and Marshall! Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for the early cooy.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
I loved this one! This is my second book by this author and she truly has a way with words.
On the heels of the death of her fiance, the main character, Wren decides to take a trip from her home state of Ohio to do a hiking and geocaching trip in Oregon. She plans to do this alone but is rescued from a scary situation by Marshall. They decide to travel together and hike and geocache as a pair. During the trip, Wren processes her multifaceted grief and he also briefly shares some tragedy from his own life and they forge a bond. This book was laced with so much tragedy and sadness, but yet was so beautiful. I loved every second of it and I'm grateful to have gotten an advance copy. Highly recommend!
This book was a fast paced read. The first section was very triggering with the hiking scene, it felt out of place. However I pushed through and the rest of the book was much better. Marshall was a sweetheart and the exposition of Rob’s betrayal was interesting. I enjoyed the notes about geocaching. Overall this was a good book but I do think the author should revisit the inciting incident at the beginning of the book.
I have enjoyed other books from this author, however, this one just wasn't for me. The first half of the story was okay, but the "surprise" near the second half mark totally lost me. I liked the premise of the first half with geocaching, healing from a traumatic event, meeting a stranger and forming a relationship, etc. I have to say that the dialogue, both between characters and the narrator, was very cheesy and sometimes borderline cringe. I have personally never known people to actually speak like this to each other. A whole lot of telling and not enough showing. The writing from the beginning had me iffy with this book, but as already stated, I was done by the time the "surprise" happened. Major eye rolls the entire rest of the book.
The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves is a heartwarming and at times heart-rending read.
Thirty four year old Wren Walter's fiance is killed in an automobile accident. While at the hospital, trying to process what has happened, she discovers that her relationship was not at all what she thought. Not only is she grieving, she has to face and overcome the deception of the man she thought she loved completely. In an effort to heal Wren plans a solo geocaching trip to Oregon. On her first outing she is terrorized by two thugs; the result could have been disastrous, if not for the intervention of of a man she had earlier seen on the trail.
Wren's rescuer is Marshall Hendricks, a psychologist and fellow geocacher.
The Trail of Lost Hearts is a story of betrayal, grief, forgiveness, reconciliation, redemption
and love.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a lovely tribute to the power of healing, friendship and love.
The Trail of Lost Hearts was such a great story. It tells of Rwen and what happens after her world is pretty much shattered after the death of her fiance. I have to say I gasped when the reveal happened. Damn! The writer really brings you into Wren and her grief. You go along with her on a geocaching journey to heal herself. I loved the characters, they were all very well written. Wren was a thoughtful and strong character and Marshall was compassionate and protective, he is such a great guy. The atmosphere was also fantastic you could picture the wilderness where Wren and Marshall were hiking and in one particular scene, the author really amps the tension up a notch. Every time you think you have this one figured out, something crazy happens. I loved it.
This heart breaking romance was hard to put down. I love this author and this book was one that tugs at the heartstrings. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an e ARC of this book.
I will read anything Tracey Garvis Graves writes. She has a way of writing that just makes me feel things. I was so excited to get an early copy of The Trail of Lost Hearts and dove right in. The thing I knew going in was one, I would feel like I’m part of the story and the emotions each character is feeling and two, I would devour it. I did just that.
The story of Wren who has unexpectedly lost her fiancé and Marshall who is dealing with own loss and how they come together on the trails was just beautiful. There were so many “omg!” moments and many tears were shed by me. It was beautiful and heartfelt. I also loved that it was based in Oregon where I live so I could picture a lot of the places written about. Even if I hadn’t been to them, the way TGG writes will paint that picture right for you.
If you love touching love stories, do yourself a favor and pre-order The Trail of Lost Hearts. And read her other books while you’re waiting! 5 stars from me!
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this early copy in exchange for my thoughts.
I love this author. this book didn't disappoint either, from page one she has you sucked in. the story is about 2 peoples grief & loss and how they survive to make it to something else. such a good heart felt read.
I absolutely adored " I Heard it in a Love Song" so I was so excited to get a galley of The Trail of Lost Hearts. It did not disappoint. It's a heartwarming tale of loss, unexpected love, and the strength to move forward when it feels impossible. Do yourself a favor and preorder this book.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC
I needed a light, romantic read to make me believe in love again and this was the perfect book. I'm not usually a hard core romance reader but I LOVED Tracey's book On the Island. This one stirred just as many emotions as On the Island did
I don't want to recap the whole story or spoil it yet and I promise to write a longer review once its released but believe me when I say, you want to mark your calendar for March 26th when its released and keep a box of tissues near by!
I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Trail of Lost Hearts" and all opinions expressed are my own. I like reading books by this author. I loved "The Girl He Used to Know". The Pacific Northwest sounds amazing, would love to see it someday. I know nothing about geocaching and it does sound interesting. Overall I enjoyed reading this book. Hopefully the universe will send me exactly what I need.
I didn't know I would cry, but this book hugged my soul. I haven't read anything by Tracey ever since The Girl He Used to Know, which I love so much. Tracey has a way with words that takes you with her. Her plots are creative and vivid and make you feel you're there with the characters. At first, I was a little lost because of all the geocaching because I have never done anything like that, but once I got the hang of it thanks to Google research, it was easy to understand, plus the MFC's age is actually my age!! I'll be 34 in a month; it's hard to read stories about 30+ years old characters. I highly recommend The Trail of Lost Hearts.
This was amazing my new favorite by the author. I felt like my heart got a big hug after reading it. The plot was creative and there was fantastic character development I cried at the end but they were happy tears.
I’ve been a Tracy Garvis Graves fan for YEARS! If she wrote it, I’ll read it. The Trail of Lost Hearts was an emotional read for sure. Wren has discovered geocaching after some heartbreaking news. She decides to go on a solo trip to Oregon to geocache and heal her soul a bit. She runs into Marshall on the first trail, but isn’t interested in small talk. However, when he saves her from a dangerous situation and suggests teaming up, as he’s on a vacation too, she decides to do it. There’s something about him…and it’s safer! He’s also had some terrible things happen, so they bond. Feelings deepen. I’ll stop there and let you read it!
Such great writing, as always. Tracy reminds us life isn’t always fair or nice, but there’s beauty to be had everywhere. You’ve got to get out of your head, out of bed and find it!
Two deeply traumatized people, a chance meeting and we travel from there, literally. A heartfelt meeting between two lost souls, and yes, it takes several turns before they truly find themselves. Well written and enjoyable. Grab this one for your TBR lis, don’t miss it.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Mar. 26, 2024
At thirty-four years old, social media manager Wren Waters believes that the universe will send you the answers you seek, if you just pay attention. But when her fiancée dies, and she finds out that he was keeping a horrible secret, Wren is heartbroken. It isn’t until her best friend forces her out of bed that she makes a plan- she will hike the Pacific Northwest Trail, hoping to find herself, “Eat, Pray, Love” style. Who she finds instead is psychologist, Marshall Hendricks. Marshall, too, is on a solo quest to heal heartbreak and the two decide to team up after a run-in with some dangerous hikers. The only thing Wren is looking for is a way to get over the heartbreak and to find out who she is- but when she finds Marshall, she begins to get answers to questions she didn’t know she asked.
Tracey Garvis Graves came on my radar with her novel, “The Girl He Used to Know” and I was an instant fan. I normally don’t read romance novels or even anything light-hearted, but “Girl’s” neurodivergent protagonist drew me in, and Garvis Graves writing style kept me there. I was excited to get the chance to read her newest novel, “The Trail of Lost Hearts”, and it entranced me as much as “Girl” did, in a different way.
Wren and Marshall are geo-cachers and the novel takes place as they hike and geo-cache through the Pacific Northwest. To me, this sounds like the tenth circle of Hell, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the plot. Both Marshall and Wren are damaged, and, obviously, they bond while they are on the road, and, yes, one thing needs to another. Like most novels of this genre, the ending was predictable. What Garvis Graves manages to do is actually make a tedious, expected path engaging and charming, all the while making sure the ending delivers exactly what the reader needs.
There are a few surprises along the way, which I appreciated, and “Hearts” is light-hearted yet heartbreaking, emotional yet delightful, all in one adorable package. This may be one of the only romance novels that I read this year, but I’m glad that the novel was “Hearts”.
This is a heartbreaking read with lots of set building and the characters are lovely. I just reviewed The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves. #NetGalley, thank you for the eARC.
“The Trail of Lost Hearts” is by Tracey Garvis Graves. I’ve been a fan of Ms. Graves’s books for a number of years - thus why I was a bit surprised reading her Acknowledgements that this book is her tenth - and also she’s now been writing for a decade. What I liked about this book was the geocaching and getting to know the two main characters. As nearly always happens when reading one of Ms. Graves’s books, you may see yourself in one (or more) of the characters. I liked how the first half (before the twist) Marshall and Wren bounced off each other - from can a male and female be just friends, to wanting to help each other but being cautious. I saw the twist coming and am still not sure how I feel about it. I see why it was added but I’m still wondering about it. A reviewer mentioned that Wren (FMC) is mature - and she is, but I think after the twist she realizes that now she needs to act more maturely - there is a difference and it was refreshing seeing her growth. I’m not sure that in the end I see the main characters lasting together for the long haul - but I would like to think that, somehow, with communication they can make it work -or at least have a healthy mature relationship of some type. I found this book to be a quick and engaging read.