This was a sweet book. The characters were well-developed and it was an enjoyable read. I highly recommend it for fans of Happiness for Beginners.

"The Trail of Lost Hearts" is quiet Romance and Women's Fiction with simple writing, meaningful topics, and mature main characters!

Wren Waters once believed that if you pay attention, the universe will send you exactly what you need.

Now she's not so sure...

Wren meets Marshall Hendricks unexpectedly on a trail while solo geocaching in Oregon. Not initially welcoming to Marshall's friendly small talk, Wren changes her tune when he comes to her aid down the trail. Afterward, Marshall suggests partnering together while continuing to search for hidden cache safely. Based on Wren's close call, she reluctantly agrees and their road trip begins...

Could the universe be at work here? Is Wren paying attention?

"The Trail of Lost Hearts" is the first novel I've read by this author and it's a refreshing romance story with two mature thirty-something main characters who are likable, vulnerable, and flawed. Both experienced recent setbacks with Wren needing alone time and Marshall craving a distraction. Important topics of grief, trust, and mental health are addressed realistically.

This was an immersion read and I preferred the digital version over the audio, narrated by Eric Meyers and Kate Handford. The voicing was fine overall but felt stilted and uncomfortable at times and didn't translate similarly in the digital version.

If you're in the mood for a quiet, refreshing romance, "The Trail of Lost Hearts" could be the one! 3.75⭐

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Tracey Garvis Graves for a DRC and an ALC via NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This felt like reading two different books that were smashed together. The first half, where Wren and Marshall are traveling all over Oregon, was good: I liked the characters, the descriptions of the scenery, finding out what they each were trying to work through in their lives. The second half, focused on <spoiler>Wren's baby</spoiler> was like a 180, a different world. This half contained a lot of inner dialogue that dragged the story down a bit, and I started to lose interest. Two criticisms I have for the entire book: first, there were a lot of unnecessary, mundane details that added nothing to the story that could have been cut out (each food item they were eating or packing or storing, for example); second, the narrator talked so slowly, and there were such long pauses between chapters that a few times I had to check to see if my audiobook app crashed. I do love a happy ending, though, and this book delivered a glimpse of that at least.

This very much was like eat, pray love, but millennial edition? I think we start off a very uncomfy with what deems almost of a sexual assault and just the notion of it happening is probably triggering to a lot of people they don’t know that’s happening. I know I skipped through like a Bajillion pages afterwards just to make sure everyone was OK.

I think the PNW and geocaching aspect were really cool. Very down with the Reese Witherspooon wilderness trek.

I don’t like the miscommunication though. I’ve never lost a spouse, but I feel like life is fleeting and for you to not tell people immediately things, you’d have to. I found it odd she just averted the whole “baby in belly” thing?

Audio was great though. Very emotional. Idk if I would have cried (I would have let’s be honest) without the audio but definitely balled like a baby with it!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @macmillan.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

A Heartwarming Tale of Love and Loss

The Trail of Lost Hearts is a captivating and heartwarming novel by Tracey Garvis Graves. The story follows Wren and Marshall as they embark on a unique journey of love and healing.

Graves's evocative writing style creates a cozy and atmospheric setting, perfect for a fall read. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and their chemistry is undeniable. Wren's vulnerability and Marshall's quiet strength make for a compelling pairing.

The geocaching element adds an interesting twist to the story, making it a unique and engaging read. The author's ability to blend romance, mystery, and personal growth creates a truly satisfying narrative.

The audiobook narration for The Trail of Lost Hearts is exceptional. Eric Meyers and Kate Handford bring the characters to life with their captivating performances. Their voices perfectly complement the story, enhancing the listening experience and making it a truly immersive journey.

Overall, The Trail of Lost Hearts is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance. It's a heartwarming and uplifting story that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

5 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillianaudio #thetrailoflosthearts #traceygarvisgraves

I love Tracey Garvis Graves' books and this was no exception! I listened to the audiobook and the narration was wonderful as was the story! This book is set in the Pacific Northwest and the setting is a character in itself. This book is full of heartache, chances, love, finding oneself, nature....it's got it all. If you are a fan of women's literature, relationship reads, feel good stories, or the author's previous works, I highly recommend this book!

I fell in love with the writing of author Tracey Garvis after reading The Girl He Used to Know, and was so excited to read this.

I paired the book with the audiobook, and loved to do a fully immersive style of read. Narrated by Eric Meyers and Kate Handford, I thought they did a great performance!

*many thanks to St Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.

The narrations by Eric Meyers; and Kate Handford were wonderful i enjoyed how much they brought to the characters and made you feel like you were living in that story and experiencing the feelings.

I miss the old style of Tracey Garvis Graves's writing, "The Girl He Used to Know, On the Island" The mysticism, the aha moment, the unrealizable moment all that kind of stuff, The trail of Lost Hearst was a good book but I feel like the magic was missing.

Wren Waters is determined to GPS or geo catching (finding hidden objects with GPS) but in this situations, she encounters many things, as a single woman traveling alone, things can get a little ugly or scary and some of those moments Wren goes to them until she meets Marshall someone who will change her life but also save it.

it is a novel full of ups and downs but nothing very dramatic or explosive, it is the love story of Wren and Marshall they weren't looking for something but I guess something finds them.

Waiting for the next book by Tracey for sure.

Thank you, Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audio copy of The Trail of Lost Hearts in exchange for my honest review.

Ever since reading Tracey Garvis Graves' novel, On the Island, I've been looking for something that will compare. Her other books are good, just not at the same level, in my opinion. However, that's not to diminish the quality of these books. Her more recent stories, to me, have a very different feel than On the Island does.

I listened to the audiobook of The Trail of Lost Hearts and while I wasn't sure if I would like this, I really did enjoy it! From the cover, I felt like it would have Wild vibes, but this was much, much better thankfully! This was an emotional listen, was very well composed and dealt a lot with overcoming grief. This is a great story and one I think can help many who find themselves in the same position as Wren!

THE TRAIL OF LOST HEARTS review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🥾Anyone else guilty of judging books by their cover?! 🫣 The cover of THE TRAIL OF LOST HEARTS didn’t really appeal to me but after seeing lots of rave reviews I picked it up (and I’m so glad I did)! This was such a beautiful story about grief and heartbreak. ❤️‍🩹

🥾Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
Wren is dealing with the death of her fiancé when she finds out even more heartbreaking news. She decides to go on a solo hiking/geocaching adventure to clear her mind and get away from everything. After a chance encounter, she meets Marshall who is struggling with his own grief. They decide to team up on their geocaching adventures and help each other navigate their grief.

🥾This book reminded me of Happiness for Beginners (but more emo). The final third had a trope that I don’t always loveee but I thought it was well executed (even though I think the story could have done without it). I enjoyed this one overall and would definitely recommend the audiobook! I thought the narration was fantastic and I flew through it on audio! I definitely need to read more of this author’s books!

🥾Thanks @macmillan.audio for my digital copy! 🫶

Oh my goodness! This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I started reading it on my kindle but when the publisher sent me an audio version I switched over and I quickly became immersed in that version. Wren and Marshall meet each other while they are in the wilderness using GPS to find hidden articles. Both have had major losses in the recent past and while Wren opens up to Marshall he cannot open up to her and when it is time for her to go home she knows it is the end for them. When she gets home she has another surprise, she is pregnant. Not Marshall but her deceased fiance. I'm not telling you anything else about this book because this one is definitely worth the read and you need to go into it and find out for yourself! Just know that Marshall does get his head back on straight and come back into her life.

I enjoyed this story about these two people who find each other, both having grief they need to work through.

What worked for me:
- the geocaching/hiking aspect of it was fun
- likable characters that I wanted to root for and see make it to the other side of their conflicts
- a main female lead who saves herself before she makes contact again with the main male lead
- a sweet, believeable ending
- a portrayal of two people dealing with two different experiences of grief who know that they need to work through their stuff before they can be good together.

What didn't work for me:
- nothing

4.5 stars rounded up

I loved that the two main characters met through Geocaching. This was a unique touch that I loved since that's an activity my family has enjoyed for several years. I found the main characters likable and the story enjoyable to read over all. Some parts were far fetched, but I was invested enough to want to find out what happened and loved the ending.

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

3.5 stars
I loved the narration for this book, which definitely helped me get into the story. The beginning was a bit rough for me. I figured that I’d have to suffer through the book so I could review it for NetGalley. Along the way though, I got invested in the story and rooting for both of the main characters to be honest with themselves and with each other. There’s a difference between withholding and lying/misleading. This book skated the line for me with some of the choices that Wren made in the last sections of the book. I understand why she did it but the increased tension about when and whether or not she was going to be fully honest started knocking it back down to what I thought it was going to be at the beginning. In the end, I liked that she had boundaries for herself and was clear with him about what her boundaries were. She didn’t have to fix him, he had to fix himself. And he didn’t have to fix her, she had to fix herself. That’s why I rounded it up!

Title: The Trail of Lost Hearts
By: Tracey Garvis Graves

Genre:
Women’s, Contemporary, Adventure, Chick-lit

Red Flags:
Death, Grief, Depression, Infidelity,
(Open Door Scenes)

Summary/Review:
Can two hearts filled with loss and sorrow be healed by each other? Wren Waters is suffering from earth shattering news, so she decides to go off grid, geo-caching. Wren plans her last minute solo trip to Oregon, as far away from her life as she can afford. She really needs this trip for herself, and is willing to brave the wild outdoors that is until she finds herself in an impossible situation. Marshall happens upon Wren’s situation, while he is geocaching to run away from his haunting past. This is my first novel by Tracey Garvis Graves, and I’ve been contemplating how to review this novel. Graves gives the reader a plot line filled with relatable characters, emotions, unexpected twists, and built in suspense. I thought the ending was slightly abrupt, and wished the ending had as much depth to its characters. Overall, the author still has me thinking about parts of this novel long after I read the last page. I love the themes of Graves' writing in “The Trail of Lost Hearts” , a novel filled with the effects of guilt, grief, loss, forgiveness, love and most of all the importance of hope for something better.

Thank you to Tracey Garvis Graves, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads
#Traceygarvisgraves
#thetrailoflosthearts
#stmartinspress
#netgalley
#advancedreadereditions

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.

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 read my first Tracey Garvis Graves book, On the Island, back in 2012 and knew immediately that I would read everything she writes. Tracey writes relatable characters with realistic problems. Her characters are people that I would like to be friends with.

Wren meets Marshall while on a solo geocaching trip to Oregon after dealing with a couple really big blows. Unbeknownst to Wren at the time, Marshall is dealing with some heavy stuff too. I loved the way they slowly became friends and learned to trust and rely on each other. The author does an amazing job of making us fall for the characters, root for their happily ever after and laugh with tears in our eyes. I also really appreciate when authors write characters that are in their 30-50s. I have never been geocaching but I think it added a fun element to the story.

This contemporary romance about a pair of geocachers who meet while they're each navigating loss is easily one of my favorite reads so far this year. It touches on themes of grief, taking chances, and the battle between guarding your heart and being vulnerable to new opportunities. It split my heart in two but also made me laugh at times. What a beautiful and tenderly woven love story. I really enjoyed the audiobook narration, too.