Surprise Pregnancy Mars Otherwise Excellent Romance Tale. This is one of those types of romance tales that is going to be divisive in a couple of different ways, but the biggest is that there is a surprise pregnancy around the 50% mark at all. Which comes completely out of the blue - there is not one iota of a hint that this character may be interested in having kids some day *at all*, then *BAM*, pregnant. Which from reading other reviews, even those who *do* have kids don't always enjoy this particular type of surprise. Much less the childfree or childless.

Outside of the surprise pregnancy though - which *does* dominate the back half of the book, though there *is* some solid character development despite/ through the pregnancy - this was actually a strong book featuring some atypical angles (such as geocaching) and some solid characterization of grief and loss in various forms and through various backgrounds.

Overall a strong tale that perhaps could have been stronger with a different back half, but which many will find perfectly solid as is. Very much recommended.

This was a tale of two halves.

I really enjoyed the first half of the book. I liked the geocaching aspect. The outdoors. The adventures. Then there was a twist in the second half (takes place right around 60%) that I just kind of rolled my eyes at. It was the major focus of the second half of the book. I get what it was meant to do, but it just didn't work for me.

This book had potential. It just kind of fell flat for me. I don't think I'd recommend this to others.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest review.

Wren and Marshall are two broken hearted people. Wren has decided to geocache in Oregon as she has done so much in Ohio. She needs a change of pace and to find out where her life went wrong. Marshall lives in Oregon and needs to escape his life. On the trail these two meet. She's leery and he's just easy to talk to. As they decide to visit the same locations, Wren opens up about her circumstances but Marshall is still in a denial stage. She needs all the boxes to be checked and he is having a problem. Off she goes back to Ohio. Another curve ball is thrown Wren's way. Can Wren and Marshall find their way back to each other? With the help of family and friends, a HEA is possible.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an arc of The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves. Wren and Marshall meet while geocaching in Oregon while they are both on the a solo vacation. Other the next week, they do more hiking and geocaching. They are both hurt, guarded people and learn to open up to each other and help each other through their individual hard times. It is a cute story and an easy romcom read.

Good read by Tracey Garvis Graves. She elevates women's fiction with her writing style. Is there a smidgen of romance? Sure. But the sentences are lovely to read and I enjoy the characters she creates. Everything comes together in the end to follow what you know is coming but not necessarily in the way you thought it would. I've read this author's work since I first read The Girl He Used to Know. The book is a good change of pace after thrillers or heavy books, though it certainly isn't what I would call a light read. It is easy to get lost in the pages of this book.

This was a wild ride and took me through a roller coaster of emotions. In the beginning, I wasn't sure that I'd finish the book it wasn't a fast start and I wasn't sure where things were going. I continued on and very quickly there was a twist I never saw coming. At that point I was very invested. Things were moving fast and a lot was happening that kept me hooked. But then once Marshall and Wren teamed up to geocache together, things began to slow down and there were some points where Wren's actions made no sense.

I didn't feel any chemistry between her and Marshall AT ALL for the first half of the book. He was giving basically nothing while she poured her out her soul. Honestly, I was very annoyed with her when she developed feelings for him so quickly after all that she'd been through. I kind of hoping that the book wouldn't be heading toward an HEA because it wasn't making any sense. Before her flight back home, she did call him out on some things and I felt a lot better. BUT, things changed after she returned home (there's another twist her that I did NOT see coming at all) and months later he begins to email her out of the blue. The emails are what brought the story home for me. Marshall's emails explained SO much and my heart broke for him.

Part of me wishes that this story was told from the POV of both Marshall and Wren. Knowing where Marshall's head was would have helped with the romantic build up so much and would have helped the first 40% of the book. I'm SO glad I kept going because it was very much worth it! There were some really great themes and revelations throughout this book surrounding grief, guilt, complex feelings, and second chances/love after loss.

Content warnings: attempted sexual assault, gun violence

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary romance📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A heartbreaking romance that’s on the more serious side

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Hiking/ geocaching
Themes of grief and healing
PCT setting
Emotional romances
Second chances
Eat, Pray, Love

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
All the outdoor descriptions, I really felt like I was there with them

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
I didn’t love how one of the “twists” was handle, it felt a little unnecessary

What an emotional and bumpy ride this was - I loved it! I thought about this story and its characters long after I finished.

This isn’t your typical love story. It’s not a perfect story all wrapped up in a shiny red bow. It’s heart-squeezing, it’s raw and emotional, and all of the bumps and turns and detours just might make you cuss a little.

At times, it’s not very pretty, not all sunshine and rainbows. But it’s real, not sugar-coated. This story is full of emotions that will tie your stomach into knots. Were there sweet moments in this book? Yes, lots of them! Also feel-good moments and scenes filled with hope and longing and love and passion. Wren and Marshall together made me happy. They just made sense. Their connection was strong and I could feel that pull.

The Trail of Lost Hearts is well-written and smartly done. This story poked at my heart, making me feel and ache and hope, right along with the characters. Remember the knots I mentioned above? They do get untied and you will be relieved and you will smile.

It’s a romance, yes, but it’s much more than that. It’s about Wren finding herself, getting back to who she was. Getting to where she needs to be. It’s about Marshall getting away, to reflect, and to also find himself. They both need to grieve, to heal, to forgive. They both discovered that when they are together, they are stronger, and they do everything all the better.

The Trail of Lost Hearts is powerful, it’s emotional, and it squeezed my heart. I always enjoy Tracey’s books, and this one will be added to that list of her books that grabbed ahold of my heart and didn’t let go.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

Oh, this book! Plenty of heartbreaking angst, but an eventual path to healing and second chance at living a new life.

Wren has fallen into a dark despair after her fiancé is killed in a car accident...but there is even more earth-shattering heartbreak to this story. Marshall is struggling with his own grief after the death of his brother. Their paths cross when both are geocaching in Oregon and Marshall ends up rescuing Wren from an attack on the trail. They eventually partner up for safety and companionship for the rest of the trip, discovering even more on the weeklong adventure.

While it took a little bit for Wren to trust Marshall, their deep connection through mutual grief and brokenness was kind of quick considering it was a weeklong journey. It still felt raw and real. Wren was so brave to open up the way she did to Marshall, and it disappointed me that he couldn't reciprocate that openness. Good for her to stand her ground even as it broke both of their hearts. It made their reunion worth more when Marshall finally fully lets her in.

Spoiler: while I appreciated the (fiancé) pregnancy twist, I wish Wren would have disclosed the information to Marshall when they first reconnected. Telling him in the hospital after giving birth was a little much. It would have been sweeter if he could have shared some in the pregnancy and been with her during delivery, but that is just my romantic heart speaking.

Kudos to the author for having our couple take healthy steps before reestablishing their relationship, giving them a solid foundation and a much deserved happily ever after.

4 stars

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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 and NetGalley, for the ARC.

I wanted to love this story, but didn't. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. I enjoyed the first half more than the second half. I like how they met through geocaching. The story had several implausible aspect, which made me enjoy it less. I only kept reading the book because I received this book as an early review copy.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

4.5 rating rounded down to 4.

What a truly lovely and heart-warming romance this is! The Trail of Lost Hearts begins with the FMC, Wren, escaping to the PNW after experiencing life-altering trauma. Her plan is to go on a solo geocaching road trip. (Two of my favorite things!!) She finds herself in a very sticky situation and is rescued by the cinnamon roll MMC, Marshall.

Much to Wren's resistance, they finish her trip together and end up helping each other in the most genuine and authentic of ways. Their chemistry is undeniable as much as Wren tries to resist. But, love is never easy, especially when you're reading a romance novel.

This is just the sweetest romance, with a little bit of spice. I loved every second and flew right through it. There was just the right amount of tension and drama mixed with just the right amount of love and affection.

Very uplifting story about coming back from heartbreak and betrayal
Appreciated how the author displayed different ways of coping with grief

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5stars!

Oh my gosh! I absolutely love this book. It’s only my second book from Tracey Garvis Graves and I doubt it will be the last. Her touch and skill to get the storytelling into a mixture of light and heavy emotions and stretched that intensity straight to the end was pretty impressive.

At the very start, I was instantly captivated by Wren Waters not because the opening of the story was good and catchy but because I never heard of the geo-caching hobby and I think it was insane! Wren was grieving of her late fiancé’s sudden passing and the fact that on the day of his death, Wren learned that she was completely blindsided by their relationship as a wife and children showed up for their dead family member. Her grief took her down and led her to do something such as geo-caching. On her solo journey to the Pacific Northwest, she met Marshall Hendricks- a psychologist who happens to be geo-caching as well to hopefully fill the emptiness after his brother’s death. Both grieving hearts found the way to each other and decided to team up aiming to succeed in both their geo-caching goals.

I am not sure how to accurately express that this book was perfectly written and how delicate, raw, honest and realistic the grieving emotions were conveyed. Everyone cope and heal differently and this book has shown how valid these emotions are when grief is heavy. I was emotional at the fact that these two people helped each other deal with their grief the best way possible just by being present for each other. I love all the characters! The conflict was real and heartfelt and the ending was glorious.

Special thank you to St.Martin’s Press via Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the copies to review in exchange of my honest feedback. This is a beautiful story and I love it!

I got sucked into this almost right away and had trouble putting it down. I finished it in two days and probably would have read it faster if I'd had the time. It had a lot of crazy twists in turns, especially for a story that's mainly a romance, and a couple times things felt so far out of left field that it almost lost me—but the story had just enough sincere heart that I bought into it all. I also appreciate any story that has major themes of motherhood. So yes, this book had depth of emotion and compelling characters and a plot line that kept me guessing. I really enjoyed myself.

My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves. I give my unbiased opinion of this book in the following review.

Wren and Marshall are both trying to come to grips with recent tragic events in their lives when they meet while geocaching in the Pacific Northwest. They quickly grow close, but reluctantly go their separate ways when they decide that the time is not right for the two of them to be together. The story is told from Wren's perspective as she works to gain back confidence in her own instincts and strengthen her outlook on the future.

I truly enjoyed this story. I have never read a romantic storyline where geocaching is what brings the characters together. The descriptions of the Oregon climate and scenery made me feel like I was there. While the romantic progression was faster than I normally like in a story, I felt it was also realistically written and I believed it. I loved Wren and how she focused on what she needed and didn't allow her attraction and growing affection for Marshall influence her decisions. Both Marshall and Wren are dealing with grief, and I appreciated the way the author showed how everyone deals with grief in different ways and on different timelines. I will recommend this book to lovers of women's fiction and romance.

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!

TW: sexual assault.

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

This book had my crying so much. This author writes beautiful romances that aren't cutesy and predictable. I love that her books feature genuine characters that face adversity. Another beautiful read from one of my favorite authors.

A Tracey Garvis Graves book is like a warm hug you give yourself by reading. Her books are always wonderful with amazing characters that take you on an emotional roller coaster. Wren and Marshall meet while geocaching. They have both been through terrible heartbreaking things. This is definitely a book that you will need tissues for! Wren and Marshall will be with me for quite a time to come!!I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

In "The Trail of Lost Hearts," Tracey Garvis Graves weaves a poignant and uplifting tale of healing, connection, and unexpected love amidst life's trials and tribulations.

Wren Waters, reeling from unexpected heartbreaks, finds solace in the unlikeliest of places: geocaching in the picturesque landscapes of Oregon. As she embarks on a solo quest to reclaim control of her life, she crosses paths with Marshall Hendricks, a psychologist grappling with his own demons. Their chance encounter on the trail sparks a journey of self-discovery and companionship that neither could have anticipated.

Graves masterfully captures the beauty of the natural world and the transformative power of human connection. Through Wren and Marshall's shared adventures and heartfelt conversations, the author explores themes of resilience, trust, and the healing process. As their platonic relationship deepens into something more, readers are drawn into a tender and authentic exploration of love and redemption.

The characters in "The Trail of Lost Hearts" are well-developed and relatable, each grappling with their own insecurities and vulnerabilities. Wren's journey of self-discovery is particularly compelling, as she learns to navigate the complexities of grief and forgiveness while opening herself up to the possibility of love once again.

While the novel follows a somewhat predictable trajectory, Graves infuses the story with warmth, humor, and emotional depth that keep readers engaged until the very end. The scenic backdrop of Oregon serves as a fitting backdrop for the characters' journey, adding to the overall charm and appeal of the narrative.

Overall, "The Trail of Lost Hearts" is a heartwarming and uplifting read that will resonate with fans of contemporary romance and stories of personal growth. With its endearing characters, evocative prose, and heartfelt exploration of love and healing, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.