So many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this book early!

I was so excited to read a new Tracy Garvis Graves book; I opened this story immediately and finished it the same day! The characters were incredibly endearing and emotionally mature. It was a joy to read about two characters who were intent on growing to be better people after the hardships they endured. The outdoorsy settings and geocaching plotlines were fun, making me want to travel to Crater Lake or some of the other places mentioned for beautiful views and hiking. Such a feel-good story that made for a relaxing Saturday read. This is a great novel for fans of Happiness for Beginners!

So beautifully written and has all of the emotions I’ve come to love from her writing.

Wren and Marshall are the main characters. They both love geocaching and have decided to take a break from their lives after dealing with major life events. They both go on a geocaching tour, alone, but find each other. Just a beautiful story.

I read this book in one sitting! Tracey Garvis Graves brings us an incredible story of the journey of two people navigating unimaginable grief.

Wren and Marshall meet on hiking trails in the PNW. It is here, among the beautiful backdrop, that both start unpacking a lot of emotional baggage.

It’s no secret that Tracey Garvis Graves is an impeccable writer. There is no lack of quality writing when going into any of her stories, and TToLH is no exception. Even the overall plot was not the driving force of how much I loved this story, even though the plot is just as interesting. It was the characters. Wren and Marshall are flawlessly written characters.

Tracey has given us two wonderfully mature characters who DECIDE what they want out of life and then they do it. They put in the work. They face the hardships. They make the difficult decisions. They heal. They grow. And it was so beautifully written. I think if anyone follows my reviews, they would know that my enjoyment in a book is often heavily character-driven. TToLH gives us those characters and the quality writing and interesting plot!

The Trail of Lost Hearts is definitely a top pick of my 2023 year (although this book doesn’t release until early next year) Be sure to add it to your TBR and pre-order it! You won’t be sorry!

The Trail of Lost Hearts is amazing! It’s a story that reels you in and leaves you gasping as one surprise twist after another shakes the story up!

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

Marshall and Wren are thrown together and decide to pool resources on a geocaching trip in the PNW. They are each trying to work through some things that life has flung in their paths.

“It’s just the two of us, outrunning ghosts, delaying what’s to come as we try to eke out the smallest measure of enjoyment when everything else has gone to hell. It isn’t meant to be permanent, but we can wring out every last drop if we feel like it.”

EVERYTHING I could say about this book is a SPOILER! Just know it is a “must read”. Get one-clicking!!
-5 Stars!-

Thanks for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this fantastic book!

The Trail of Lost Hearts is a heartwarming story about two strangers, Wren and Marshall, who have taken a time-out from life and are soul-searching to find themselves while geocaching in the beautiful Pacific Northwest trails of Oregon.

In addition to finding themselves, they found each other when Marshall saved Wren from a terrifying encounter with two men on the trail. Despite Wren’s initial apprehension toward Marshall, they found comfort in each other’s company and their platonic friendship turned into more.

Geocaching in the wilderness served as an excellent backdrop for the story's exploration of love after loss, capturing the thrill of adventure and the sense of wonder that comes from discovering something unexpected. Tracey Garvis Graves (TGG) expertly paints such a vivid picture of the PNW Oregon trails that I was able to imagine I was along for the ride.

I always appreciate the author's ability to tackle sensitive themes with care and empathy while creating relatable and intriguing characters. I really enjoyed Wren’s sense of humor and independence, and Marshall's kindness and security.

I’ve already started re-reading this book, at a more leisurely pace this time. I was so excited to read TGG’s 10th book that I missed some of the details (Easter Egg?).

I’m hoping to learn more about Graham someday!! 🙂

After the death of her fiancé, Wren Waters is left reeling from the life she has lost, and the life she didn't know he had. To try to find herself again, she set off to Oregon to geocache through the state in the beauty of nature. During her first cache, she nearly meets her demise when Marshall appears in a clearing and saves her life.

Staying at the same hotel, Marshall offers to accompany Wren on the rest of her trip, since they both were planning on caching in the same areas anyway. From the outside, Marshall looks like your average PNW guy, but as they embark on their journey together, Wren comes to realize that she's not the only one struggling with the gut wrenching loss of someone they love. What started as two strangers teaming up for a week-long adventure could potentially lead to more in common than they ever could've thought.

The Trail of Lost Hearts was a quick, but powerful read. I fell asleep reading two nights in a row, not because it was boring, but because I was so invested in the story, I didn't want to put it down! Like the last two books I've read by Tracey Garvis Graves, this one really makes you feel. While we may have our own struggles, there is something relatable in each of her books and I can't wait for the next. It's just a shame that it'll be down the line, as this one doesn't debut until March 2024.

A massive thank you for Tracey Garvis Graves and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to get an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. It is truly much appreciated! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Read at your own risk!

I’m honored that I was selected to receive an early copy for review. It was fun to go on an adventure with Wren and Marshall and discover geocaching and experience the scenic views through their eyes.

In THE TRAIL OF LOST HEARTS, Tracey Garvis Graves continues to write with a tenderness that has become a trademark of her storytelling. I love how I would laugh and have tears in my eyes at the same time. She makes it very easy to root for Wren and Marshall in hopes that they will get their happily ever after, but it’s also understandable if it doesn’t work out between them. What I love most about Wren and Marshall is how they are thoughtful in the ways they communicate and take care with each other.

What I connected with the most was how she portrays the ways tragedy can change us and direct us. An uncertainty can overcome our lives and it affects how we think and even causes us to lose trust in ourselves. This is illustrated in ways that aren’t overwhelmingly sad. Instead, it’s expressed compassionately within this beautiful, romantic, and sexy story.

In her Acknowledgements, TGG shares that she wrote the book that she needed to write because it was the book she needed to read, and I thank her for it. It was the book that I needed too. It’s a story filled with humor and romance that can make even a shattered heart flutter. Readers will undoubtedly love this book for the gift that it is.