I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It was an interesting read, but I wish there had been more of an explanation of geocaching somewhere. I vaguely understand it, but to be immediately thrown into with a Garmin and everything slowed me down a bit. Liked the main characters and both their losses were handled sensitively. But two things bothered me, one small and one big. Oregon, up until just a bit ago did not let customers pump their own gas, and that ruined one plot point. The other was that Wren wanted Marshall to be completely open with her, and was upset when he didn't, but then she hid something so big from him, and seemed to feel that was okay.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book. This does not affect my review.

This was in the end a feel good romance. Happy ending. I was so afraid things were not going to turn out well.
Liked the name given to the baby.

When a book cover has a quote from CoHo it's a must read for me! This book by Graves was a typical romance but in a new-to-me setting. I liked the characters and the setting! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. First time reading Graves's work.

I was so lucky to be an early reader of this charming, beautiful book. I'm a fan of Tracey Garvis Graves and this book doesn't disappoint. Wren and Marshall, both suffering tragic loses, meet while geocaching in the Pacific Northwest. Marshall saves Wren from a horrible situation, but Wren is not looking to be saved. However, they form a connection and both work through their hurt to try and figure out whether they belong together. The early scenes in the Northwest are so beautiful written, you feel as if you're there. When Wren flies back to her home in Dayton, OH, the plot takes over and I couldn't put the book down. What a wonderful book of loss and love.

A lovely read. Tracey Garvis Graves knows how to write poignantly and really make readers feel all the emotions of her well-developed characters. The premise of the plot was simple but woven into the structure, pacing, and writing of Graves it became a testament to strength and perseverance. The strong, bold characters really grabbed hold of my attention through the wonderful story telling and perfect pacing of plot. The setting provided relaxing imagery that made me want to visit the PNW immediately. This proves to be a beautiful book, full of surprises and warmth as well as pain and hardship. I feel fortunate to have been given the opportunity to read it.

Thank you for this ARC! I loved The Girl He Used to Know so I was excited to read this book. I would say this book is far more of a typical romance story with all the usual tropes. For that reason, I was slightly disappointed, as I don't love typical romance stories. Manufactured drama, best friends that will drop their own lives to do anything for you and lots of miscommunication fill this story. It also is about geocaching, which I was surprised to learn is still a thing. If you like romance, I think you will like this book. If your only experience with Graces is The Girl He Used to Know, like me, then know that this story is not as innovative. Trigger warnings for death and adultery.

**This review will contain spoilers**

Overall, a solid read, especially the first 50%. I especially enjoyed how the writing style transitioned in accordance with Wren's mental state. In the beginning, the narrative was detached, but it subtly transitioned into more positive and colorful narration as Wren began healing. With Wren as the central POV, I thought Graves did a masterful job of demonstrating Wren's growth without it becoming preachy and redundant.

Wren and Marshall's personal tragedies and coping mechanisms were well done as well. Their trauma responses were believable and promoted a healthy understanding of grief; I definitely gained insight into how I can better overcome my personal shadows and better respond to my close ones' battles with their shadows.

Overall, I found the surprise pregnancy to be fine, and I warmed up to it even more when I got to the subplot with Shayla. I think it sends a really powerful message to those overcoming grief; although healing can feel like a solitary process, there are likely other people who are overcoming similar circumstances and/or other people that were also impacted; sometimes, problems are bigger than us, and we must think beyond ourselves when finding solutions.

My major problem with the pacing of the book in the second 50%. The pregnancy felt super rushed, which made Wren's character arc feel lopsided. Wren comes out of this experience as a different character, now as a mother and as someone with changed priorities. Yet, there is a lack of exploration into this growth and all we kind of get is "Now that I have a daughter, I no longer have wanderlust, so sure! I'll move to Oregon :)"

Marshall's character arc in the second 50% also felt a little lopsided. His healing process from his trauma was very well done, but his decision to be with Wren and help raise her daughter was explained away as "I got on a plane, I paid an online database web search thing to get your address, I'm at your door, I love you, I like kids, I'll buy a crib and put it in my office because I'm here to stay." Okay but what was he thinking about when he meditated on it for like, 3 weeks??? He's characterized as an overthinker (I think), what were his anxieties?? His concerns?? The absence of this information makes the second half of Wren and Marshall's romance feel so much more shallow + a little confusing.

Due to the extremely disappointing second half (the only saving grace was the scene with Shayla), I can only give this book 3 stars. If the book just ditched Marshall in the second half and explored Wren's motherhood journey + communication with Shayla a lot more, I could easily see it being a 4-5 star read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC. All thoughts were my own.

I have read a few of Tracey's previous books: The Girl I Used to Know, On the Island, Heard it in a Love Song, and now The Trail of Lost Hearts. I was able to snag this one as a "Read Now" and I was very excited to read it. This one ended up being 3/5 stars, which for me means that I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. In other words, it was just an average read. It felt like there was something missing, and after thinking about it, I think I would have liked to see a DUAL POV in the book that included Marshall's perspective. This one also includes my least favorite trope: surprise pregnancy, which when I got to that part, I kind of groaned out loud. I liked the idea of the geocaching and I thought that part of the story was cool. It also felt like part of the book was rushed. When Wren arrives home from her trip, she immediately finds out she is pregnant, and then 9 months seemed to fly by, and the whole time, she has no contact with Marshall, and she tells him the day the baby is born that she had a baby, which in my opinion, was like the absolute worst time for her to tell him. I wish she would have told him sooner when she was pregnant, and then, after like a week together on the trip 9 months prior, he shows up and then it is a happy ever after. I would have liked to see more of their relationship, and I think if Wren would have told him while she was pregnant, that part of the story could have been fleshed out more. Thank you to the publisher for giving me a chance to read a copy of this book.

really loved this romance of 2 geo catcher's who end up hiking and finding them in Oregon. Loved that they both helped each other and ways to get over their grief. loved the friends and the romance. I loved that they had a fling but it turned into something more. I stayed up way to late to finish this 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 fel.ow geocacher.
The Trail of Lost Hearts is a story of betrayal, grief, forgiveness, reconciliation, redemption
and love. Perhaps a tad predictable, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a lovely tribute
to the power of healing, friendhip and love. 4 Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley for an Advace Reader Copy, although that in no way impacted my review.

I was so excited to read this book after loving this author's last read! I honestly have such mixed feelings about this book- a huge part of me loved it and read it quickly as I was highly invested in the character's stories. Another part of me found it a little on the cheesy/too predictable side. That aside, I'd sum it up as the main character coined her life- "a romantic dramedy." I'm absolutely glad I read it, and would recommend it as a light hearted escape read. I will definitely keep following this author and look forward to her next book!

Another lovely read by one of my faves! This book is filled with all of the emotions. Love, pain, loss and new beginnings. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC. Also, I missed the Easter Egg! I’ll have to reread :)

When I open a Tracey Garvis Graves novel, I know two things are certain: 1) I will see myself in the characters and 2) Graves will take me on a journey of growth and happiness. And that’s exactly what we get in “The Trail of Lost Hearts”.

Wren and Marshall are both dealing with heartbreaking losses, yet a chance encounter sends both on a journey of healing and love. Set in the Pacific Northwest, readers walk side by side with Wren and Marshall as they work through their emotional baggage – on and off the hiking trails. I love that TGG skipped the overused tropes and gave us mature characters who truly wanted to grow and learn, who wanted to be open and honest from the start. Nothing irks me more than when authors dumb down characters and solutions in hopes of pulling off popular tropes.

As Wren and Marshall find themselves on the hiking trails of the PNW, they also find the courage to believe in love again, to reach for happiness. I found Wren to be far braver than I would be considering the circumstances she finds herself in. She really gives grace when I would have been less forgiving. Her character arc is one that gives me hope for other women for find themselves dealing with devasting losses and surprising developments. Marshall is the quite kind of love interest. One who is respectful and endearing, who gives space when needed yet provides comfort when Wren needs it most. He is a slow build hero and I often thought he was a lot like Jonathan in Graves’s book “The Girl He Used to Know”, which is a must read if you haven’t already.

“The Trail of Lost Hearts” is the perfect story of second chances – both platonic and romantic. Not only do we get a love story from TGG, but we are also gifted the chance to see two individuals find themselves while hiking through the great outdoors. Speaking of you can tell the author really did her homework on both the PNW and Wren’s hometown. I always find joy in seeing locations I’m familiar with being well written in pieces of fiction.

* Thanks to the publisher for my ARC *

Tracey has this way of snagging your attention from the. Very. First. Sentence. And not letting go until you’ve finished the book and sat with your thoughts for an hour. And maybe then some more. These characters were so darn LOVABLE and I could read more and more and more of their story and never be bored.

Wren has embarked on a geocaching journey amidst some trauma in her life, when she encounters Marshall along the way. Marshall is battling some horrors of his own, and the two strike up a friendship.

I will forever be a reader if this authors work, and her latest does not disappoint. Grab this one as soon as you can!

4.5 - I have loved Tracy Garvis Greeves books in the past, so I jumped on the chance to read her latest and I’m so glad I did! A story of rediscovering love after loss set against the beautiful backdrop of Oregon (one of my favorite places in the US!). Great characters, story really flowed, and I really liked the setting and the geocaching/hiking content. Minor spoiler but I was getting really annoyed with Wren in part 2 of the book, because she was ALL IN on sharing and communication in the first part of the book and then started to make some questionable choices, so that knocked it down a half star, but glad it all worked out in the end!

this book had it all. i was hooked. It gave me the emotional feels and love about this. I really enjoyed this story and this author book. I will need to read more of these stories.

I was so drawn to and invested in Marshall and Wren's story from the very beginning up until the very end. I loved Marshall and Wren and loved them for each other. I really admired and appreciated the psychological aspect of these two characters and all the obstacles they had to overcome and growth they needed to do over the course of the book. The first half of the book follows the slow-burn yet also whirlwind week after Wren and Marshall first meet geocaching in Oregon. The second half focuses on the several months after when Wren is back home in Ohio. A beautiful and emotional read that felt truthful and real which are my favorite qualities to a romance novel.

First time reading work by this author and enjoyed it immensely. So happy to have witnessed Marshall and Wren's love. And I so appreciated the message that if we're paying attention, the universe gives us exactly what we need!! Much gratitude to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I always enjoy Tracey Garvis Graves' books. While somewhat predictable, they're easy and fun to read. The Trail of Lost Hearts was no exception. As someone who grew up and lives in the state of Oregon I appreciated the attention to detail and the description of the sites that Wren and Marshall visit. Having been to Eugene, Crater Lake, Bend and Mount Hood I could definitely picture the scenes set there.

Without spoiling things, I felt like the twist in the book kind of took things downhill slightly for me. It was a bit too "predictable twist" if that's a thing? Overall I still enjoyed the story but I would've made the twist something else but that's just me and my preferences. Still a fun read and I did enjoy it.

Hands down, without a doubt, one of my favorite books this year... possibly ever! I read "The Girl He Used To Know" a few years back and absolutely loved it, but for whatever reason hadn't really picked up any more of Tracey Garvis Graves's books since then. I am SO glad that changed. The Trail of Lost Hearts is such an amazing story of love and loss. The power of resilience emanates from this book! I'm a reader in my free time, but clinical mental health therapist in my professional life. I was so proud of the sound advice and advocacy found in this book! I've read many books featuring a character in the mental health profession and my head almost explodes with the ethical violations and boundary crossing that is (often unknowingly) included. But not this time. TGG handled the situation beautifully and with care.

Wren - my heart breaks for her, while simultaneously cheering her on. As someone who has also been blindsided by duplicity in a relationship - I could relate to the emotions she cycled through on such an authentic level. Her grief and shame and anger were so REAL. And Marshall. Oh, Marshall. I just wanted to hug that man. He is everything. And such bravery on both of their parts.

I felt like I was watching Wren and Marshall's stories unfold in real time - as Wren figured things out about Marshall's past I was nodding along with her as if I was discovering new information too. It all made so much sense! And let me just say, this story is fictional, but there are some amazing truth bombs throughout. I have never underlined or saved quotes from a fictional story.... until now. So much goodness wrapped up in this book.

This is a must read - and a must re-read. A book that I will be thinking about long after I put it back on my shelf. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book (and some free therapy!) in exchange for my honest review.

After personal tragedy, Wren is on a solo trip in the PNW when she meets Marshall, a fellow traveler who is also geocaching. He is also reeling from personal tragedy and happens to be a psychologist. Needless to say, they help each other. But will their relationship go the distance?