📚Book Review - The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves 📚

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March 26, 2024
St. Martin’s Press
304 pages

What a beautiful story! I was hesitant with how the book started (check trigger warnings), but this ended up being such a comfort wrapped up in a book.

It’s often said that parenthood is the hardest job you’ll ever have, but I prefer the version Tracey Garvis Graves used in this book. “It will be the hardest job you’ll ever love.” That is so very true, and, as a parent, it’s nice to read books that highlight the bond between parent and child. The bond I have with both my son and daughter is so special. I love how eloquently the bond between mother and daughter is transferred to the page in this story.

Get ready for an emotional read. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll smile, and you’ll feel all the feels. This is perfect for fans of Katherine Center. It reminded me of a lot of Happiness for Beginners.

I switched between the Kindle book and the audiobook. The narration was excellent, and I highly recommend it in this format.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio, for the ARC and ALC.

I love reading about characters that are close to my age, and are completely lost.


Wren is definitely lost, and she has reasons to be.
Imagine being engaged to someone. And then they die, and you find out they had a freaking wife and kids!!!! Emoji
If that wouldn't turn your world upside down, I don't know what would.


This story is about finding yourself, learning to trust other people again, and moving on with your life after a traumatic experience.


It’s a quick read, and I really liked it! I listened to it basically in one day.
Ohioans will love the references, aka Skyline Chilly haha


3.5 stars

I requested The Trail of Hearts on NetGalley by Tracey Garvis Graves because I’ve read The Girl He Used to Know and On the Island and enjoyed both. I went into this with certain expectations. Overall, it was fine, but the character development felt a bit rushed. Y’all, I love me some light, fluffy romance. When the subject matter is really light, a shallow character development makes more sense than here, where it felt like she wanted our characters to experience a more profound grief and sadness. I felt like Wren moved through her grief and anger very quickly. We were set up well to sympathize with her, and then suddenly, it felt as if she had processed and moved past it. The timeline of Marshall’s grief felt more authentic to the story.

As a listener of the audiobook, I struggled with one other issue. At 75% of the way through the book, we get a male narrator narrating emails from Marshall. Before these emails, we only had one female narrator telling the story. The sudden introduction of Marshall’s voice did not fit what I was hearing in my head throughout the book and threw off my created image of him. Maybe a less visual reader will not struggle with this, or perhaps the voice will fit your image of him. I have no doubt this is more of a personal preference.

Overall, it was a good story with lovable characters. She paints therapy in a very positive, necessary light, which feels like a win for the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen and review.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬⁣
𝐁𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬⁣
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐒𝐭. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧’𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬⁣
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟑.𝟐𝟔.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑆𝑜𝑜𝑛!⁣
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Thank you @stmartinspress for a gifted arc. ⁣
Thank you @macmillan.audio for the gifted audiobook. ⁣
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This was a tough review to write because it’s so much better to go into this story without having any of the backstories of these characters.⁣
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Here’s what I’m going to share with you. Life has just dealt Wren two heartaches that shook her to her very core. It rattled her confidence, trust, and hope in love. So, she sets off to do some geocaching in the woods of Oregon. But first, more of the world is going to knock her down a few more times. ⁣
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On the trail, an unlikely rescuer comes to her aid. Marshall is a psychologist on his own journey, seeking relief from heartache. The two become partners on their wanderings, friends on a path toward healing. Maybe they’ll learn to trust again, one day. ⁣
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The development of these characters and their struggles is paced, you have to stick with them - remember these two are hurting. I’m leaving things vague, but trust me these two have to navigate some major land mines. But watching them grow through the pain - especially Wren was incredible. I’m not sure I could have been as big a person as she was. ⁣
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Although technically a romance, I felt this was more about Wren and Marshall’s journey, if you will, toward healing and learning to love again. ⁣
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A beautiful and moving story.

3.75* audiobook

When you find out your boyfriend has a life you knew nothing about. There’s love, drama and a bit of unexpected happenings.

Nice heartfelt book with some nice steady twists. It starts out intense, but became slow and steady with a bit of a twist and drama towards the end. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat, but it definitely kept me wanting more.

If you're a fan of Wild or Happiness for Beginners, this book is for you!

Our main character Wren has had a rough year. Her fiance dies unexpectedly in a car accident, where she then finds that he has been hiding a major secret. To deal with her grief, she decides to go geocaching in Seattle. On her trip, she runs into another lone geocacher and they get to know each other more.

Marshall lives in Seattle and also decides to go looking for a new geocache. What will happen between Wren and Marshall after Wren has to travel back home to Cincinnati?

There's a trope in this book that I don't love and so it was harder for me to read, but it was short and I felt like I could finish quickly so I did. I think this book just fits a niche category that I just don't fall into! The narrators were great. They made listening to the book more enjoyable. I don't know if I would've continued to read it if I didn't listen to the audio (just due to the trope! otherwise this was a well-written book that I think many will like!)

TW: sexual assault.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was such an emotional and thought provoking story! I was hooked within the first chapter and read this in one sitting! This was my first book by this author and I will for sure be reading their other books! The writing was beautiful and the descriptions made me feel like I was right there with these characters. I could see the landscapes in my mind and I am interested in geocaching after reading about it in this story.

Wren and Marshall’s journey of working through their grief and finding themselves was heartbreaking but also beautiful to see their growth throughout. Despite their own baggage they help each other through building a friendship and learning to love again. I listened to the audiobook while following along with the paperback. The narrators did an excellent job of bringing this story to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced copy of the eAudiobook! In "The Trail of Lost Hearts," Wren Waters navigates the depths of grief after a profound loss by immersing herself in the world of geocaching, a journey that unexpectedly intertwines her path with Marshall Hendricks, a psychologist grappling with his own past trauma. Their chance encounter on the trail sparks a connection forged through shared sorrow and a mutual love for geocaching. However, as they confront geographical distance and the lingering effects of their respective losses, they must question whether their bond can withstand the challenges ahead.

What sets "The Trail of Lost Hearts" apart is its poignant exploration of grief and healing, intertwined with a blossoming romance. While not your typical lighthearted romance, the narrative delves deep into the complexities of its characters' emotional landscapes, offering a rich backstory that enhances the depth of their connection. The unexpected twist adds an intriguing layer to the storyline, keeping readers engaged until the very end.

Narrated by Eric Meyers and Kate Handford, the audiobook brings the characters to life with authentic and compelling performances. Meyers and Handford skillfully capture the nuances of emotion, drawing listeners into the heart-wrenching journey of Wren and Marshall. Overall, "The Trail of Lost Hearts" is a must-read for romance enthusiasts seeking a captivating story enriched with heartfelt emotions and well-developed characters.

This one had some interesting twists to it. A cute romance but then it got much deeper than that when they shared their history. I didn’t realize people still did the geocaching but I think it makes for an interesting way to find a potential partner.

🌀Synopsis
Wren is taking a trip by herself and that in itself is a huge feat. After wallowing in the depression of losing her fiancé, it’s time for action.she didn’t just lose her fiancé though, she found out that he was living a double life and he was actually married to someone else. She doesn’t even get to grieve losing him because his real family needs to do that.
She decides to go geocaching, one of her favorite things to do, and that’s how she ends up meeting Marshall. He’s a psychologist that helps her out of a tricky situation. After that, the two decide to adventure together. As they reveal more of their pst and lives together, they start to form a good relationship. Things are going really well until Marshall closes off a part of himself and Wren finds out she’s pregnant with her dead ex-fiancé’s baby. It turns out Marshall has some things to work through just like Wren and they have to figure out if they are able to work through it together.

The Trail of Lost Hearts is a heart squeezing, page turning, wild ride. I have been cruising through books so far this month and this book is one of them. This book pulled at all of my heart strings and had my jaw dropping.

Synopsis
Wren Waters' life has been turned upside down with the tragic accident that leaves her fiancé dead. Not only is she grieving the life they had together and the person he was, she is also grieving all the secrets that he had kept from her. Wren ends up getting into geocaching, it helps bring her out of the depression she is slipping into. She decides to travel to the Pacific Coast to do a week-long geocaching search. She ends up teaming up with Marshall Hendricks, a psychologist who is also looking for a distraction in the woods. They meet by chance on a trail and become friends.

Together they enjoy a road trip traveling and geocaching the rest of the week. But their time is coming to an end and a long distance relationship with someone who has not completely opened up is not on the table for Wren.

Will they be able to go their own way? Especially with all the heartache they have both endured? Or will they find each other again down the road?

Review
This was such a heart-wrenching read. Around every corner there was something that made me think “OH SNAP”. So many plot twists, so many heartbreaks and so much self-discovery for both Wren and Marshall.


I will be sharing this on 3/15 with link provided!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the eAudiobook ARC! After a sudden and impactful loss, Wren Waters discovers geocaching (using GPS to search for hidden objects) as a way to process her grief. As she's exploring, she runs into Marshall Hendricks, a psychologist who's recovering from his own traumatic loss. When Wren is threatened on the trail, Marshall comes to her aid and soon the two are drawn to each other, finding a bond through their loss (and love of geocaching). But being from different sides of the country and both still recovering, can their find their way forward together or should they say goodbye? With an unexpected (but welcome and well done) twist, The Trail of Lost Hearts is perfect for fans of romance who love good character backstory and deeply emotional elements (not for those looking for a light-hearted romp). Eric Meyers and Kate Handford narrate the audiobook and offer authentic voices to story.

I love and appreciate Graves’ writing so much, but this novel did not quite have the same effect as her others. The characters are nuanced and their struggles with grief and forgiveness were handled well, but this was another book that just made me feel like I was reading a soap opera. There was too much going on for everyone and it made it really unbelievable to accept their stories as individuals and together.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and Libro.fm for the ALCs.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of this audiobook.

Wren Waters is a successful, self-employed content writer for websites. She is secure in herself, and in her relationship with her fiancé, Rob, with whom she shares a condo in Dayton, Ohio. Rob travels for work almost constantly, but she is close to her parents, has a small group of attentive friends, and is independent, so she makes out okay. Naturally she wishes they had more time together, and that Rob didn’t seem so unwilling to talk about his past, and that he paid more attention to her wants and needs. Mostly, she shrugs off her worries—even though his excuses are truly thin.

When the story begins, Wren is suffering from the sort of devastating double loss thankfully unknown to most. The man she was planning to marry is killed in a car crash on his way home from yet another trip. He has emergency surgery but dies without regaining consciousness. The second blow comes when she finds out that he has been living a very double life. He had a wife and two young children living in Rochester, New York. She meets them at the hospital.

In a completely understandable stupor, Wren decides to give herself a year “to wallow,” her words, then she will pick herself up and carry on. Not willing to accept that decision, her best friend Stephanie insists they go hiking, where they are inadvertently introduced to geocaching. Wren really takes to the activity, seeing it as way to find ‘purpose in the middle of nowhere,’ a metaphor for her life after Rob.

This is where Marshall Hendricks enters the picture. Still depressed, she decides to cross the country for a solo geocaching expedition on several northwestern trails. A psychologist practicing out of Eugene, Oregon, Marshall is also an geo enthusiast. They meet briefly, not long after she starts her first hike up a secluded cliff. Moments later, Marshall saves Wren from a dangerous encounter that further traumatizes her.

The rest of the story follows their developing relationship during Wren’s month-long holiday and in the six months or so after she returns home. Too shaken to continue on her own, she accepts Marshall’s offer to go with her on the trails she has mapped out. Mutual attraction, proximity, and an emotional need neither will admit, bring them close quickly. Remarkably so, seeing as both are getting over failed relationships while insisting they’re not ready for involvements. Things get very hot, then cold, then warm up again via text and email when the holiday ends. There are periods of backing off even as they try to figure out how to make things work.

The author deftly presents each of their perspectives on their stories. Marshall is not simply trying to get over a relationship, any more than Wren is—they both have a tremendous personal tragedy to overcome. She tells all from the start, though she does withhold important details on occasion, one doozy in particular, but always rationalizes that the time isn’t right. For the most part, he listens supportively and commiserates, also without revealing his own story completely. This is a relationship red flag for her. And he, sensitive man and trained therapist, agrees that it should be.

Wren and Marshall are both decent people who have been sorely shafted. Their ambivalence about trying again is realistic and relatable. You want them to succeed. You want to feel a lot of sympathy for them, but I don’t, because they are both so self-obsessed despite claiming otherwise. Wren, who is given to thinking all about her responses even while responding, and then rehashing them over and over, is a hard one to follow. She switches back and forth about the benefits of therapy while not wanting to commit to therapy, while the actual therapist basically provides free therapy for her in his every unbelievably thoughtful conversation, text, and email. She doesn’t trust men but is fast persuaded to drive miles alone with a stranger, hikes lonely paths with him, shares accommodations and even falls into bed with him —repeatedly and in great detail—before a whole month is up. She declares herself smarter than most men but that’s not really evident. Meanwhile, they both caution against rushing into things.

The author is a seasoned writer who knows her way around a good relationship story, and there are some striking insights about love, loss, and the nature of grief, written in a style that pulls the reader in. I don’t have to really feel for the main characters to appreciate that.

Synopsis: When Wren Waters and Marshall Hendricks meet while geocaching in Oregon, they discover that they're both on solo adventures for similar reasons--loss. Although Wren initially is reluctant to link up with Marshall, due to a general reluctance toward men, she quickly learns that him being a charming psychologist might actually make him the perfect partner. As their connection grows stronger, it becomes apparent that they were destined to meet one another and might be the key toward the other's healing.


Thoughts: This story was so raw, and the way Tracey Garvis Graces wrote the complex character backstories and plot points was perfection. My heart ached as I followed Wren and Marshall on their personal journeys toward healing, and the companionship they shared was truly special. There are certainly some gut punches along the way, but the trajectory of their relationship is realistic and suits the characters and circumstances. I absolutely adored this book and thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audiobook.

The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves
Narrators: Eric Meyers, Kate Handford
Rating: 4.5 stars
Steam: 1 chili
Pub date: 3/26

Still reeling from not one but two shocking revelations that completely upend her life, Wren decides to take a trip and do some geocaching on her own. She almost immediately gets into a frightening situation but is saved by Marshall, a fellow geocacher and psychologist who is also traveling alone.

This love story of companionship, adventure, and healing took me completely by surprise. Graves portrays Wren and Marshall as flawed yet endearing characters, making their journey together feel genuine and relatable. There were quite a few twists I didn’t see coming, and my heart was pounding during a few suspenseful moments.

While the story tackles themes of grief and healing, it never feels heavy-handed. Instead, Graves delicately explores these topics while infusing humor into the story to keep things light. Wren and Marshall are both mature in age and emotionally, which is refreshing and sets this one apart from most romance novels.

I also listened to this on audio, and Kate Handford does an incredible job with the narration. There are a few interludes with Eric Meyers, but Handford narrates the majority of the book.

Overall, this is a captivating and uplifting read that will resonate with anyone who appreciates a tender romance with substance. I enjoyed my journey with Wren and Marshall and I’m looking forward to whatever Tracey Garvis Graves does next. I highly recommend it to those seeking a heartfelt story with a sprinkle of adventure and a dash of romance. Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press for my digital and physical copies, and thank you to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

Read if you like:
*Wild by Cheryl Strayed
*geocaching
*older MCs
*friends to lovers
*mental health rep
*a few open door scenes
*single POV

I really enjoyed this book telling the tale of Wren and Marshall's story. It is full of tragedies, shocking revelations and hardships, but also the strength a person has to overcome anything.

A healing journey can look different for everyone - solitary, among friends and family, with a therapist - but the desire to heal and the work is most crucial.

I loved the outdoor element to this book. Fresh air and nature does something to the soul.

The audio was well narrated and easy to follow. My biggest sticking point (which I'm well aware is ridiculous) is the cover. To me, it feels like a cover for a kids or middle grade book. I don't know if it's the colorful beanie and braid coupled with the drawing... I just don't know.

The Trail of Lost Hearts is a wonder novel about two heartbroken people coming together and helping each other heal. I’m not going to lie I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought. Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. I read the whole book in one sitting. I feel it could help many people who are trying to heal from a painful experience.

But let’s talk about geocaching. Before this book I have never even heard of it. Looked it up and thought my daughter would love it. So yesterday evening my daughter and I found our first cache. Thanks Tracey Garvis Graves for introducing us to geocaching.

The narrator was a great fit for such a great book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy for my honest review.

I don’t usually gravitate toward books in the romance genre, but when I read the synopsis of this story and the “meet cute” scenario was a Pacific Northwest trail on the hunt for geo-caches, I thought it was such an unusual premise, it convinced me to give it a shot. Wren meets Marshall while on a solo vacation in search of “caches” she’s mapped out using a Geo-caching app. Marshall is a therapist on a leave of absence from seeing clients who feels compelled to protect Wren along her journey. Wren is recovering from the unexpected loss of her fiancé and Marshall, is working through his own personal issues, but has amazing listening skills developed over the course of his career.

There are a few chapters that get into steamy scenes of passion, but the majority of the book is about heavy relationship decisions and complex feelings and emotions dealing with trust and grief. It’s about opening up and being vulnerable, and situations when withholding information can be forgiven.

There is a subtheme about handling hard things on our own versus allowing others to help us get through them. Also, with Wren having been raised as an only child, and Marshall growing up as the oldest of three siblings, there is some exploration on the value of sibling relationships.
There are some intrinsic thoughts shared from both the male and female POV of the relationship, which reminded me a bit of “Georgie, All Along” by Kate Clayborn.

Wren Waters is like a wounded bird. After crippling loss and betrayal, her bestie introduces her to geochaching. Here is what I liked about this book:

🐦Wren's geocaching vacation was an informative and scenic setting.
🐦Marshall is also grieving and they are a good match.
🐦Her best friend Stephanie is a delightful support and adds some levity.
🐦Her closure is a satisfying and insightful plot decision.

Now a note on what I did not like. About halfway through the book, the slow burn bursts into flame. Wish they had kept that door closed! May decide to skip any future titles by this author.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a delight! The cover of this book peeked my interest, and I am so glad it did. I'm also glad I was able to receive an advanced reader's copy so I am able to share this review and hopefully get some other readers to choose this book as their next read!

This book captured me from the first chapter. Wren's journey through the loss of love and trying to move on to the next chapter in her life was really enjoyable. I was rooting for her from the start. The experience of geocaching was also something I knew nothing about. This hobby made me want to lace up my hiking boots and his the trails!

The relationship between Wren and Marshall was adorable. I really enjoyed how Marshall was helping guide Wren through her hiking experience, and also life! His compassion for Wren was admirable, all while dealing with his own past. That is another part that this book that I loved. Wren and Marshall just seemed like they were the missing puzzle piece for one another.

Another reason to love this book were the unexpected twists Tracey Garvis Graves through at the reader. I was ready for a typical plot of a romance, but this definitely had smiling as the story went down different forks in the road than I had been expecting.

The Trail of Lost Hearts is a must read for anyone looking for inspiration to move past a tough experience, to take a chance on a new hobby, or a new friend. This is a cozy novel that will keep you smiling while pulling at your heartstrings. Tracey Graves Graves is an author I will follow so I can snatch up her future publications!