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.

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

Tracey Garvis Graves delivers a story that balances laughter, tears, and hope. It is emotional, heartwarming, beautifully written, with strong character development. I enjoyed the themes of grief and healing, fate and connection, and its use of geocaching as a metaphor for finding purpose through life and grief. Overall, a beautiful story about starting over, and the unexpected possibilities of life.

After discovering that her now-deceased fiancé has a wife and family, Wren Waters needs a reset. She takes a mini-vacation in the Pacific Northwest, planning to geocaching a number of sites. On her first day out, she's accosted by two men who have assault on their minds, and is rescued by another geocacher, Marshall. They agree to form an alliance to help Wren feel safe, and her solo trip turns into one for two. Marshall describes her journey like Eat, Pray, Love with dirt, GPS and skinned knees. Wren allows herself to be vulnerable, and quickly falls for Marshall, who seems to be carrying a load of his own. When she asks him to share, he can't; and it's the end of the brief affair. Eventually, they reconnect, and the narrative switches to email, text, and phone calls. In the audio format, this was an abrupt shift that detracted a bit from the story, as until now it was in Wrens sole point of view.

The character development and growth is marvelous. Graves is masterful at drawing the reader in, setting a scene, and writes beautifully, whether describing National Parks or simple meals or deep conversations. You'll cheer Wren and Marshall on, and your heart will ache as they navigate their baggage.

Spoiler Alert: After accusing Marshall of withholding information and splitting up to go back to her real life in Dayton OH, (highlight to continue reading)Wren learns she is pregnant by her deceased fiancé. When she finally comes clean to Marshall and he invites her back for a visit with her daughter, his grand gesture is a place for Birdie to sleep in his office. "You can tell a single mother that a relationship is real over and over and that you’re all in or you can show her by buying a crib and assembling it, and what used to be your office."It reminds me of the time my now-husband, then-boyfriend, installed a towel bar next to the sink in my galley kitchen, taking care of needs I hadn't even expressed. Grave's writing is filled with such truths.

I received a free advance reader's review copy of #TheTrailOfLostHearts via #NetGalley, courtesy of MacMillan.

I read the ARC for The Trail of Lost Hearts and loved it so much that I wanted to listen to the audiobook and give it a review as well. Nothing has changed for me. I LOVE this book and the narration was perfect. I really enjoy audiobooks with dual narrators, in the voices of the opposing viewpoints. Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me an advanced (even though it's officially out now) copy of this book and audiobook!

So, So, So good! It 1) made me want to start geo-caching. It 2) reminded me why I love the Pacific Northwest so much. and 3) it made me really proud to see a woman stand up and set her bounds and be strong, even when she felt like melting. It was a great read that kept me hooked from the first page.

This was a story about a woman on a journey to find herself and her path for the future after tragedy strikes her life. During her journey she meets a man who, like her, is on his own journey of self-healing. Throughout this book there are a few surprises and a happy ending. I found this book interesting and thought provoking.

I've been a fan of Tracey Garvis Graves for years and one thing I know to expect from her books is lots of emotions. I went into THE TRAIL OF LOST HEARTS fully expecting that emotional rollercoaster, and honestly, up until the first few chapters, I thought I would be in for that. But somewhere along the line this book lets the foot off the gas. While I read it in one sitting and I enjoyed both the main characters, I wasn't invested. My heartstrings were not tugged the way I expected.

This is a sweet story with some emotional up and downs but I wish I could've connected more. One thing is for certain. It did feel real.

I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would based on the cover and the description. Wren Waters had two life-altering experiences and took on the hobby of geocaching to get her mind off of the past. While geocaching on a lone vacation, she runs into trouble. When a fellow geocacher, Marshall, comes to her rescue, the two of them start off on a journey of discovery together. I loved the adventure in this book. The setting in the Pacific Northwest was perfect. I would love to try geocaching one day! Both Wren and Marshall had so much pain and heartbreak from the past yet had so much to give. This was a story about finding yourself, healing from the past, and looking forward to the future.

The Trail of Lost Hearts is a contemporary romance between two people who have faced tragedy. They meet while hiking in the forest. What begins as friendship blossoms into something deeper. Will they be able to overcome their hardships and learn to love again? If you’re a nature enthusiast and you like love stories that are complicated and emotional, you’ll enjoy this book!

Thank you to @macmillan.audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🙏🏻

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This is my 3rd book by this author and while my favourite still remains to be The Girl He Used to Know (that one just really blew me away, especially the ending), I did enjoy this one as well. The dual-narrated audiobook was excellently done and I enjoyed the initial setting and the two main characters. There were many good supporting characters in this one too, and Wren's circle of friends and family were fun to read about (I love a group chat where everyone teases a bit).

I did find the middle dragged a little bit because I wasn't quite sure where the story would go, but I admired the direction the author took with the ending and I don't want to say much for fear of spoiling a couple of major plot points but I do believe readers will either love this one or have mixed feelings about it depending on preference for a couple of tropes. I appreciated Wren's character growth, the mental health representation on the part of both characters coping with different grief journeys and the positive focus on therapy and seeking help.

Mostly, I kind of want to try geocaching now - especially with my kiddos!! I never thought of myself as being a huge outdoors person but I definitely love it now in the last 10 years more than ever.