This author is an automatic read for me. The book had a slower more "blah" start to me (I have been needing something more upbeat at the time, but picked up. I was invested in the characters and the plot.

4.5 out of 5 stars!

This is my first book by the author and I was pleasantly surprised by the breadth and depth of the story. Wren and Marshall have both suffered a loss. While their losses are vastly different, grief with loss no matter the type is no less profound. It was serendipitous that they met up on the trail at her first stop. She didn't feel wary around Marshall, which was a good sign that he was good person. Geocaching brought them together, and allowed them to forge a relationship that was based on trust. While the story was heavy at times, there was also levity.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves introduces us to Wren who needs to find a way to deal with grief. People always say you should be in nature to find your peace and that's exactly what she does. She takes up geocaching. It's fun to locate hidden objects using only your GPS as a guide. She gets herself into a dangerous situation out on the trail alone before Marshall comes to her rescue. They decide to team up "for safety's sake". Loved both of these characters and the relationship that forms from a shared hobby and taking out things in their past! I look forward to reading more books by this author!

I really enjoyed this book and learned about 'Geocaching" in the process, by the way geocaching sound like a great adventure. Great story of a Woman who navigates through a difficult relationship and it the process finds healing, and a new friend through her geocaching. This all leads to many other new and interesting adventures. Love the book cover and this Author, my second read of hers.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press and the Author Tracey Garvis Graves for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thrown off their paths by life-altering tragedies, Wren and Marshall meet while geocaching. Marshall helps Wren out of a potentially horrifying situation with two hateful men on a remote trail. While reluctant to trust, she agrees to team up with him for a few days to help their geocaching prospects, and the two form a fragile friendship that could blossom into something more.

What follows is a beautiful, quiet story about finding love after grief and tragedy for both Marshall and Wren. Each has terrible stories in their past and a justified reluctance to engage again with the real world. Watching them fall for one another is basically the entire plot-- there are no wild surprises or twists--but it's a sweet fall (with some unexpected spice!). The Pacific Northwest scenery stands in as another character, thanks to the gorgeous descriptions throughout the book. Garvis Graves does an excellent job of delving deep into her characters' psyches, exploring sadness and loss, but also leaving us with hope (and a desire to try geocaching).

THE TRAIL OF LOST HEARTS 🥾

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
@goodreads: 4.09
Author: Tracey Garvis Graves
Format:📱🎧
Narrator: Eric Meyers, Kate Handford
Length: 304 pages / 9 hours audio
TW: sexual harassment, infidelity
Pub Date: 03/26/24
🌶️: ch. 21, 22

Wren’s world shatters when she receives two life-altering blows she didn’t see coming, and all she wants to do is put the whole heartbreaking mess behind her. She decides that a weeklong solo quest in Oregon is exactly what she needs to take back control of her life.

Enter Marshall, a psychologist searching for distraction as he struggles with a life-altering blow of his own. In the interest of safety, he suggests partnering on their hike. What begins as a platonic trip gradually blossoms into something deeper as two lost souls find the unexpected courage to love again.

💭 I’ve been anxiously anticipating this release for months, but it fell a little flat for me in the back half. :( I was super invested in the first part, but the second half felt like a totally different story when a particular trope is introduced as the twist. i did enjoy learning about geocaching + thought that was something super unique to incorporate into a story! marshall + wren can’t help but tug on your heartstrings as they’re both heavily grappling with grief, and I loved the growth we see in both of them! tracey’s writing is beautiful and was jam-packed with awesome quotes! I felt like this book helped me heal a little bit too. 🥰

Read if you enjoy: HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS, THE LAST LOVE NOTE, forced proximity

a huge thank you to @netgalley + @stmartinspress for my eARC ✨

Fave quote: “How nice it would be if women could go about their lives with the confidence a man has when it comes to safety.”

“Anger is just sadness coming out sideways.”

"Everything you're experiencing is normal. Your feelings are bound to be complicated, but they are valid because they’re YOUR feelings. You can't turn them off and how much you loved him like a faucet. It doesn't work that way."

“It's important to grieve, not only for the person you lost but also for the life you're not going to have with them."

"A person's level of deception is not an indicator of your intelligence.”

“Healing isn’t always a straightforward and linear process.”

“I’m happier when my birds are here in the nest.” 🥹

“Grief is a bill and until you pay it, life puts a lien on everything else.”

"It takes a special person to help heal a heart they didn't break."

“You can slap a smile on your face, you can even enjoy yourself and have fun when you're hurting inside. But that doesn't mean you aren't working hard and healing. And one day, if things go the way you want them to, you realize that the scales have tipped and the weight of the sadness you feel is finally lighter than your happiness.”

When Wren Waters is dealt not one, but two major blows back to back, she embarks on a geo-caching journey as a way to process her grief. There she meets Marshall Hendricks, a psychologist dealing with own grief and turmoil. A friendship forms when the two agree to partner in order to help another achieve their goals, while staying safe from those looking to cause harm.

This book caught me completely by surprise. It pulled me in immediately as I learned about what Wren had endured, and kept my attention with the introduction of Marshall (soon to be everyone’s newest book boyfriend). I loved the way Graves tackles the long term ramifications of grief especially when it intertwines with guilt.

The characters feel so real and each handle their emotions in a very real way. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the emotional growth these characters show from where they started - both quite broken by life. I laughed, I cried, I swooned and felt all the other feelings a great book can bring about.

A heart wrenching read that will leave your emotions joy riding long after you finish.

I can not recommend this book enough full of grief, angst, self discovery, recovery, and a slow burn romance there is so much. to love.

With her trust shattered, Wren is down and out until her friend introduces her to Geocaching.

Wren becomes addicted to Geocaching and goes on a trip to find a number of them. She is a young female traversing the trails alone when some disgusting men come upon her and attempt to have their way with her.

Marshall, a man she had run into earlier, rescues her and they team up to continue the Geocaching.

This book takes us on a journey where we see Wren and Marshall become a team and share their secrets.

4.5 stars

Wren's worldview shatters when the universe delivers two life-altering blows she didn’t see coming, and all she wants to do is put the whole heartbreaking mess behind her. Wren discovers that geocaching is the only thing getting her out of bed and out of her head. She decides that a weeklong solo quest geocaching in Oregon is exactly what she needs to take back control of her life.

Enter Marshall, a psychologist searching for distraction as he struggles with a life-altering blow of his own. Marshall suggests partnering up to look for additional caches. Wren’s no longer quite so trusting of the universe―or men in general―but her inner circle might argue that a smart, charismatic psychologist isn’t the worst thing the universe could place in her path.

What begins as a platonic road trip gradually blossoms into something deeper, and the more Wren learns about Marshall, the more she wants to know. Now all she can do is hope that the universe gets it right this time.

Let me first start by saying that I have not read a book written by Tracey Garvis Graves that has not made me feel every emotion by the end of it. I love her writing and the way she tells a story. Every book has been a fantastic read for me, and this one does not disappoint. I will warn this book will likely make you cry, but in the end the characters grew and built an excellent foundation for a relationship. This store is set in the PNW - which I am a fan of as I live here myself.

I really, really enjoyed The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves. I was drawn into this story from the first chapter and cheered for the characters until the end. I’ve heard lots of praise for this author; this was the first of her novels I’ve read.

Geocaching is a theme throughout this book and sets the stage for Wren and Marshall’s meet-cute. Both in their 30s, they’re rebuilding their lives while mourning significant losses. The plot took a couple of turns I didn’t expect, but they were within the range of believability. The characters felt real, and I’m envious of the close bonds Wren has with her circle of friends.

The audiobook was skillfully narrated by Kate Handford; the second half includes email exchanges between hero and heroine, and Eric Meyers narrates Marshall’s messages.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for access to the ALC.

I really struggled to rate this because my thoughts were all over the place, and I might change my rating in a couple days...

I really enjoyed the first half of the book; the geocaching was fun and I enjoyed the characters getting to know each other. The writing was well done, and this book was a breeze to read. But the second half of the book wasn't for me. I wanted more character development, but instead there was just a lot of repetition that didn't work for me, especially with how the story progressed. I couldn't root for this couple.

First half of the book: 4 stars
Second half of the book: 2 stars

Spoilers below:
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[We essentially know nothing about Wren and Marshall. He's a psychiatrist with nice forearms. She wants a bigger family. Basically the entire second half of the book they don't communicate at all, so I don't understand how fell in love over the week they had together, with little communication after separating, and finally getting together in person only for the last 4-ish chapters of the book.

The surprise pregnancy from the late fiancé story line really bothered me. First, I'm not into surprise pregnancy in books, and this was the entire plot of the second half of the book. Second, the pregnancy was related to birth control failure, which made it even worse. Third, Wren spends a good quarter of the book repeating that she's going to tell Marshall about her pregnancy because she can't be with a man who can't be honest, even though she also can't be honest, but she doesn't want to derail his mental health progress, so she avoids telling him until she finally actually has the baby. (hide spoiler)]

Thank you St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Tracey Garvis Graves for the ARC in exchange for my review.

THE TRAIL OF LOST HEARTS is about Wren who just went through a devastating loss — her fiancé was suddenly killed in an accident. From there, the life and partner she thought she knew completely unraveled. Finally, she’s able to do something for herself — hiking around the Pacific Northwest where her path crosses with a tall, handsome man who seems to be on a similar mission.

I’ve learned at this point that maybe this author is too hit or miss for me. And it would take some spoilers to really explain why this was a miss. Let’s just say there’s a trope in here that I don’t love and that the ending was so obvious and I ended up feeling a bit annoyed we didn’t get there fast enough. I’m also not sure if it was the writing or the audiobook but I was just meh about it.

If you love a dramatic romance, do not let me deter you! There are DEFINITELY some good parts in this book!! One of them was absolutely not the cover LOL such a bad cover eek.

Tracey is always my go-to author for the feel-good story that my heart needs. This book is no exception :) It would be perfect for a mom's group or book club!

I was so caught up in the pacing of this story that I finished reading it in one day. The narrative and plot are perfectly paced and has mature characters with deep moments and past experiences that resonate throughout the story.

“two lost souls trying to find the light”

My heart broke for Wren and what she had to endure with loss and sadness and secrets from that loss. Marshall was a very compelling character in that given his background, he dealt with his own guilt and grief in a way that made him relatable and so very human.

This is a book of grief, self-exploration, recovery, and second chances that gives these two characters what they deserve. Wren and Marshall’s slow burn beautiful heart rendering love is meant to be.

…”if you pay attention, the universe will send you exactly what you need.”

I teared up with my heartfelt emotions while reading this poignant, impactful, angst filled story that kept me up way past my bedtime.

This was a journey for sure, and one that left me feeling the gamut of emotions. From the beginning, I was invested in the story. The romance was complex and the way that they were brought together was unique. I loved the geocaching aspect and the setting descriptions. The conclusion was lovely and tied it all up in a nice bow.

“The Trail of Lost Hearts” by Tracy Garvis Graves is going to be my go-to rec for breaking out of a slump — or anyone getting back into reading.

Thanks to St, Martins Press for a gifted galley of “The Trail of Lost Hearts,” which came out Tuesday 3/26.

If you want to catch up on your reading, catch the flu 🥴 I was pretty much down for the count this week, and this is one of the books I devoured. I’d been looking forward to this one because I really enjoyed “The Girl He Used To Know,” but I liked “The Trail of Lost Hearts” even more.

My best advice on this one is to go in blind. If that’s not your style, know this: Wren Waters, having suffered a tragedy, goes geocaching in the Pacific Northwest and meets Marshall Hendricks, a man with his own issues.

Is this a romance? Well, there’s a romantic storyline. But I would really categorize this as contemporary fiction. It’s a grief journey and then some. Above all, it’s a really great read that I’m certain you will fly through. If you just need *something different* I would try this one!

I was hooked instantly in this one! The first half of the book was 5 stars for me. I loved the hiking and geocaching, and the connection between Wren and Marshall. They were both dealing with grief, but Tracey wrote it in such a beautiful way where it didn’t feel too heavy. The second half is why I dropped it a star. I didn’t like some decisions by Wren, and it felt a little repetitive to me. Overall, it’s still a fabulous book, and I liked how it ended.

This is the only book by this author that I did not love. I found the chemistry between the two characters to be lacking and way too many secrets between these two characters. It was pleasant but skippable.

This novel weaves a sweet and slow burn romance. There is no drama, just genuine emotions and healing in the aftermath of personal tragedies. The story captures the beauty of self discovery and the unexpected connections that can mend even the most broken hearts.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.