Wren Waters has been dealt two life-altering blows by the universe, and embarks on a solitary journey into the outdoors looking for answers. She's decided to go geocaching in Oregon for a week. Marshall Hendricks is a psychologist who's also dealing with his own problems. When he and Wren first meet, Wren rebuffs his attempts and small talk, but after a scary encounter later, they decide to team up.

What follows is two broken people helping each other find themselves, and a platonic friendship turning into a slow burn. Beautifully written and diving deeply into grief and recovery, this gem is a must-read if you enjoy women's fiction!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

I will never say no to a Tracey Garvis Graves book. That is a good thing because I might have skipped this book had it been written by someone else and I would’ve missed something special. Two people met when neither of them are close to healed from the wounds recently inflicted on them. Not the best time to feel the spark of a connection but we get to see them open up to each other and each help the other on their journey to the other side of their grief. A really lovely and emotional story that I was wholly captivated by.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my third Tracey Garvis Graves, and what I have come to love about is that she writes love stories and feels in different and unique ways. Trying to rebuild her life after some really big hard life stuff, Wren heads out for a solo geocaching adventure. Along the way, she meets Malcolm who is navigating some "stuff" of his own. What I liked about this one was the overlay of emotions through the relationship of Wren and Malcolm. There is some hard stuff and heartbreak, but there's also hope, and that's so often what you want out of a story like this one. This was a just an all-around delight of a read with real feels in so many different (and at times unexpected) ways. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this March 2024 release!

The characters were well written and relatable, all parts of the storyline felt believable and true to what would happen outside of a fictional story. Surprised by the number of twists for fictional romance.

This is a heartwarming story about love, loss, trust and living life to the fullest. Wren and Marshall are characters you will root for - not perfect but willing to put in the work to be the best version of themselves.
I knew Tracey Garvis Graves was a gifted writer, but my expectations were exceeded. This was the 3rd novel of hers I’ve read but it certainly won’t be the last. Highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I have never read a book by this author, but now I want to read past books! I was drawn to this book by the unique cover and the geocaching! The story was so well done and just gave me all the feels. I definitely recommend this one for readers who enjoy women's fiction and a good contemporary romance.

This story really pulled on my heartstrings and at the same time want to shake some sense into the characters. The story follows Wren and Marshall, who both use geocaching as a way to deal with the grief they both have of losing someone they loved. While I loved both characters, they both make questionable decisions, that made me cringe hard, especially Wren. The writing though was really good even though some parts were part Hallmark movieish, but I really enjoyed the adventure the story took me on and how it ended.

Wren is 34 years old and recovering from the devastating loss of her fiance. Marshall is 40 and recovering from the shocking loss of his younger brother. They meet by chance, while geo-caching in Oregon, where Marshall lives.

This is not your usual fall in love, have a misunderstanding, resolve it and all is happily ever after kind of romance. This is a story of two wounded people who fall in love but are not ready yet to open their hearts again and risk being hurt again, and how they found their way to being together.

I just loved the characters in this story! This book is so much more than a romance - I will be thinking about it for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

Big thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title!

What a lovely, heart warming story. Filled with personal growth, past hurts to reconcile, and a future unimagined- Wren and Marshall will leave you swooning.

(1 star deduction for some overly wordy parts that left me bored while they’re on their caching)

What a heart-cache!

Wren Waters is 34. She is a social media expert who works from home. Recently she has suffered two significant losses. She is down and depressed until she finds out about Geocaching. This outdoor activity is the only thing getting her out of her bed and her thoughts.

Wren decides to embark on geocaching on a hike trail in Oregon away from her friends and everyone who knows her.

Marshall Hendricks is a psychologist. He meets Wren on a trail, realizes she is after a cache, and offers to find it together. After Wren turns him down, they meet again when he helps her out of a dangerous situation.

He proposes to continue their geocaching journey together; this time, Wren is in.

What starts as strangers develops into friendship and then into something more but are they both ready to move on?

A book by Tracey Garvis Graves is always a sure thing. At least for me, it is.

This was a delightful read with multiple tear-jerking moments. Both Wren and Marshall went on a journey with their anger, guilt, and grief and came out better. As time passed, I loved how an open communication developed between them. In my eyes, they both grew as a person, building a strong foundation that is needed for a true long-lasting relationship.

This was a buddy-read with Jayme. Check out her amazing review.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Heartwarming story of Wren Waters, who has had her share fair of heartbreak. In her attempt to rebuild her life, she embarks on a hiking adventure and meet the sweet Marshall. Fans of this author are going to love her new book!

The Trail of Lost Hearts is a wonderful read, full of tragedy and yet its a heartwarming story at its core. Wren and Marshall meet by chance when they are both looking for the same geocache on a hike in Oregon. Both are reeling from recent heartbreaks but end up forging a friendship, and helping one another heal along the way. This was such a quick and easy read, I read it in just a few hours. I started it thinking it would be sappy and hallmarky, but it was really much more than that. The story and characters had depth and I found myself really rooting for them.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for access to this ARC!

Wren Waters believes that if you PAY ATTENTION, the universe will send you exactly what you need.

But she definitely didn’t need the two back to back blows that she DID NOT see coming!

Her friend Suzanne insists that she has wallowed in her grief long enough and that it’s now time to get dressed and leave the apartment to join her on a hike. It’s one that will inadvertently introduce her to geocaching―the outdoor activity of using GPS to search for hidden objects.

It’s addicting, and soon after this “discovery” Wren decides that a weeklong solo quest geocaching in Oregon might be EXACTLY what she needs to move forward.

Marshall Hendricks, is another solo geocacher on the trail, battling his own demons.

Wren initially rebuffs Marshall’s attempt at hiker “small talk” but she’s beyond thankful when he rescues her from a terrifying encounter farther down the trail.

He suggests that they team up, as they look for additional caches, and though she has lost her trust in men, she has to concede that it’s probably the wise choice to make, in the interest of safety. It also turns out to be a very therapeutic choice-for them both.

Did the universe send her what she needed this time?
She’s definitely PAYING ATTENTION now…

Tracey Garvis Graves writes wonderful women’s fiction. It’s mature, it’s introspective and it tends to bring a tear to your eye, as you near the book’s conclusion! Her characters feel like people you might meet in your own life because they do things you do-like share a pizza 🍕-and think the things that you might think.

I spent a year living in Lake Oswego, OR, (Portland area) so, I was able to picture the gorgeous sites they visited on their hikes, but this one may have gotten a little bit too heavy on the “therapy talk”!

Despite that, she is now “three for three for me” so, I am always glad when I see that she is releasing a new book!
And how about that adorable book cover? ❤️

Expected publication date: March 26, 2024

Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this! I was excited to start it since I read and loved The Girl He Used to Know by this author. Unfortunately, this book didn’t have the same effect and I DNF’ed at 39%. I didn’t feel any sort of connection to either of the main characters and it became a chore to pick this one up rather than something I looked forward to. I will be giving her other books a shot even if this one didn’t quite work for me.

I love how Wren learns and grows throughout the book. She could remain negative and bitter but doesn't. I enjoyed how the love story took a while to develop instead of magically working out immediately.

Wren and Marshall meet each other on a trail while geocaching. They both have experienced significant loss and are on a trek to be in nature to help heal their hearts. After a scary encounter in which Marshall saves Wren, they decide to join forces. As they spend more time together and share their stories with each other, they find themselves falling in love. Can they trust each other to take a leap and trust in each other? You will have to read to find out.

From the first to the last chapter, I was rooting for Wren and Marshall. The sadness and pain they experienced was overshadowed by the blossoming of their relationship. A true love story. The author’s writing drew me in from the first page. A sweet and enduring love story that shows us all that love can be born from tragedy.

I was lucky enough to get an advance copy and read this book. I would highly recommend this book. Put it on your TBR. It is coming out March 26, 2024.

Thank you to @netgallery and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

I have loved all of TGG's books and this one is no different. It's a story of pivoting through life when things don't necessarily go as planned. It kind of took a hard left to get to a pivot in the storyline but I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of it.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC of this!

Absolutely lovely!!! I now want to go geocaching and go to the Pacific Northwest!! I loved the courage of Wren. I loved her friend group. Everything about this story was beautiful. How we see ourselves when the rug has been pulled beneath our feet, is often bewildering. Or when our life is turned upside down, things we think are true about our nature, we second guess. Seeing Wren and Marshall wrestle with their thoughts about who they are and how they fit in the world are just as beautiful as the scenery.

What a beautifully written book about loss and love! Both Wren and Wren and Marshall are facing loss from unimaginable circumstances and wind up geocaching at the same time and a potentially devastating situation brings them together. This is a fairly uncomplicated romance and is told in a steady voice. I found it very enjoyable and left me with those “feel good” flutters! I definitely recommend you pick this up when it releases in March!

While I know that a 3 star rating isn’t bad, I am bummed to not be giving this book a higher rating. I’ve adored Tracey Garvis Graves’ writing since the first time I picked up On The Island, and I love hiking so the idea of a trip into nature to geocache was so up my alley.

That aspect of this book really worked for me. Unfortunately it only lasted the first half of the story and what the story turned into in the second half is just genuinely a topic I do not want to read about. I do understand why it wasn’t in the description, but it’s a BIG twist (I’m going to keep this review spoiler free, but I have seen reviews marked as having spoilers if you do want to know what this is prior to reading it) and I honestly wouldn’t have picked this book up had I known about it. I’m trying to not fault the story over my personal preference, but it was disappointing that a storyline that was working so well for me quickly changed.

I didn’t love Wren as a character, which is the biggest reason why I’m settling on a 3 for this book. I did think the story was well written, but when I can’t connect with a character and don’t love what the story turns into, it’s just not going to be a favourite.

I’ve seen the author mention a small Easter egg from On The Island and I was so desperate to try find it! The only thing I saw was a character named Ben was mentioned, but I think that was just a coincidence and not the actual connection.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.