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.

This was my first book by Tracey Garvis Graves, and now I'll definitely read her backlist!

THE TRAIL OF LOST HEARTS brings together two characters on their own personal journeys through grief. When Wren and Marshall cross paths, a tentative new friendship blossoms as the two help each other learn to trust again when they decide to finish their geocaching road trip together. As challenges they couldn't have predicted unfold, Wren and Marshall find themselves turning to each other. Could their paths to through grief to healing have been fated to bring them together all along?

A lovely story all around. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

After receiving a tragic dual blow in her personal life, Wren decides to take up geocaching to give herself purpose. She flies to the Pacific Northwest where she meets Marshall. Marshall tries to offer some trail small talk but Wren is too prickly after her loss to succumb to his charms. Soon after, Marshall rescues her from a bad situation and she decides to team up with him, at least for her vacation. Marshall is also suffering from a horrible loss and is using hiking and geocaching to find a new purpose in his life. This story took lots of twists and turns, just like the trails that Wren and Marshall travel. I liked the measured adult way that both characters approached their traumas. I didn't know anything about geocaching before and found that interesting as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for my honest review.

liked the characters and learning more about geocaching. And I appreciated the way the story showed that grief can be hard for everyone and there are different ways to handle the cards thrown at you. Overall, I enjoyed the story.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of Trail of Lost Hearts in exchange of an honest review.

Thank you to Tracey Garvis Graves, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Talk about a rollercoaster of emotions. This book had me in all my feelings. Wren was dealt 2 back to back blows and she decides to do something to get her mind off it and keep her busy. Marshall is a psychologist. Together they decided to go on a geocaching journey.

I loved how Tracey described everything. it was like you were there watching this all play out.

There was a little too much "therapy" talk in it, but other than that. I enjoyed this one.

Wren has just lost her fiancé and uncovered a huge secret that turns her world upside down and leaves her heartbroken. After some time she discovers geocaching and decides to go on a trip to discover more geocache sites and hopefully mend her heart.

Marshall has just lost his brother who he was very close with. One of his brothers favorite things to do was geocaching so Marshall decides to take it up in hopes that it too will help mend his broken heart.

When the two meet unexpectedly there seems to be no attraction but after an incident in the forest with some bad guys Wren and Marshall decide to team up and go geocaching together. As you can imagine they begin to grow closer to one another but not without a few pitfalls.

I really enjoyed both of these characters stories. I feel like the author did a good job of highlighting all the ways each of the characters were hurting and how thy helped each other to start to heal. The writing throughout was just great. She added all the right twists and turns that make up a good contemporary romance and just the right amount of humor and drama.

This book is about two lost souls who needed a distraction and when they found it it turned into something else entirely.

Thank you, NetGalley ad St. Martin’s Press for this arc in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book! I am a big fan of the author and was excited to learn about a new release. This book exceeded my expectations and I enjoyed the book alot. I like this author and will read more by her!

Wren has been through a few very dramatic, traumatic, heartbreaking events recently. She is on a trip to the Pacific Northwest to try to heal some of those gaping wounds. On her first day she meets Marshall and while the last thing she is looking for is companionship on her trip, she decides that the company wouldn't be so bad after all, if only for her safety. Marshall is working through his own trauma. Can they help each other heal or will the events of their past make it impossible for them to move into the future?

I cannot say enough good things about this book. This book felt like the best longest hug. I feel like I went on a healing process as I read it. Tracey Garvis Graves makes you feel so deeply with her beautiful writing. She's quickly become a must-read author for me with every new book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of The Trail of Lost Hearts.

The Trail of Lost Hearts showcases grief and tries to portray the challenges people face when it feels impossible to move on. Wren is determined to move on from her prior relationship which was filled with dishonesty. Meanwhile, Marshall is struggling to come to terms with the tragedy he endured. These two lost hearts come together to find healing and hope, but similar to all journeys, it doesn't come without challenges. This is a story about love, loss and finding redemption from the thoughts that bind us to the past. A tale of hope, courage, and the ability to move beyond the grief.

I wasn't sure about this book in the beginning. I haven't read this author before. But her storyline ended up winning me over. Wren and Marshall had so many emotions. I loved the geocaching road trip because it provided an engaging backdrop for this story. Plus, I have heard of geocaching before because one of my children do this activity. I haven't really read a romance story line like this one before. But I found it to be good and it's well written. Marshall and Wren go through an amazing journey throughout this book. I feel that romance readers would enjoy this book.

Beautifully written. What an emotional, touching story. Relatable characters. Story about self discovery after loss and learning to move on.
I’ve read another book by this author, On the Island, I enjoyed it as well.

At the start of this book, main character Wren, who is still trying to recover from a personal tragedy, decides to take a trip to Oregon to pursue her new geocaching hobby. While doing so, she meets fellow geocacher, who is dealing with issues of his own. Each of them have their own issues, but can they help each other heal with friendship or maybe something more?

A lot more happens than that, both in the present day and revealed about their past lives, but I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just leave it at that so you can go in blind. There’s romance in the book, but also big issues and Wren’s emotional development. Kind of like a Katherine Center book but with a few more steamy scenes.

Tracey Garvis Graves was a new-to-me author with The Girl He Used to Know, and I loved it so much that it made me an instant fan of her writing. With a unique voice and heroine, it made me want to read more of her work. And I’m so glad I did.

The Trail of Lost Hearts is a unique friends-to-lovers story full of significant growth for both the hero and the heroine. Our hero, Marshall, does a lot of personal reflection and shows remarkable growth, but this book is more about Wren’s metamorphosis into a better version of herself. It’s an intriguing and beautiful story depicting grief in different forms and the road to learning to love yourself again, trust yourself again, and trust others with yourself and your heart once more. Told in dual points of view, the storyline was engaging and written in such a way that grew my curiosity more and more as I journeyed through the pages. When life interrupted my reading, I was more than frustrated to have to put my enjoyment on pause to do necessary adulting. While I must confess that I’m always slightly doubtful each subsequent book will be as good as the last, so far, this author hasn’t let me down, and I’m anxious for what comes next from her.

NICUnurse’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐