Sandy M’s review of The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves
Contemporary Romance published by St. Martin’s Press 26 Mar 24
The universe giveth – and the universe taketh away. But thank goodness for Wren and Marshall, the universe definitely knows a happy ending when one is so desperately needed. These two have been through hell, and on their hard-fought way back, they discover that the universe knows what it’s doing, making them look a bit differently at what they thought they needed.
Wren has finally decided she needs something to bring her back to life after an emotional and deceitful betrayal. She discovers geocaching and eventually knows she needs to be on her own to find her center and get back on track. Taking off to parts unknown in the Pacific Northwest, her treks quickly turn her new happiness into fear when meeting up with bad elements on the trail, something she doesn’t need in her life after all that upheaval. Her rescue comes from a surprising source.
Marshall is also on his own life-renewing journey after a terrible loss and trauma. Geocaching is something he’s aways enjoyed, and right about now he needs it more than ever. Meeting an interesting woman on the trail doesn’t quite work the way he’d like, but he sees the signs she’s tossing out and goes along his way. Running into her again is not what he expected, but all ends well, and they eventually decide to continue their hunts together.
Wren has to swallow her distrust the universe has thrown her way lately and hopes against hope Marshall will be deserving of her trust. He is exactly what Wren needs, a friendly and handsome psychologist to help her talk through all the bad stuff. As their feelings and emotions toward the other grow, despite Marshall not opening up to Wren as she did to him, they enjoy a fun fling until Wren has to return to Ohio. When that time comes, Marshall wants more, but Wren has to look out for herself this time around, leaving him behind, breaking both their hearts.
And those hits keep coming from the universe. Wren gets unbelievable news once home, all the while trying to push Marshall to the back of her mind and heart. Marshall has to work on himself, realizing he can’t ask more from Wren until he can give her the openness she’s shared with him. That old universe sure knows what it’s doing. Once again contacting the other through email and texting, they find a new common ground amid hard work and tears. Could be Wren had her facts wrong, always believing the universe would send her what she needs when she needs it.
This is such an emotional and heart-felt story. The twists and turns keep the surprises coming. The slowly building love between Marshall and Wren is warm and life-affirming. Maybe we all need to listen to the universe with open minds more often.
Grade: A
Summary:
Thirty-four-year-old Wren Waters believes that if you pay attention, the universe will send you exactly what you need. But her worldview shatters when the universe delivers two life-altering blows she didn’t see coming, and all she wants to do is put the whole heartbreaking mess behind her. No one is more surprised than Wren when she discovers that geocaching—the outdoor activity of using GPS to look for hidden objects—is the only thing getting her out of bed and out of her head. She decides that a weeklong solo quest geocaching in Oregon is exactly what she needs to take back control of her life.
Enter Marshall Hendricks, a psychologist searching for distraction as he struggles with a life-altering blow of his own. Though Wren initially rebuffs Marshall’s attempt at hiker small talk, she’s beyond grateful when he rescues her from a horrifying encounter farther down the trail. In the interest of safety, Marshall suggests partnering up to look for additional caches. Wren’s no longer quite so trusting of the universe—or men in general—but her inner circle might argue that a smart, charismatic psychologist isn’t the worst thing the universe could place in her path.
What begins as a platonic road trip gradually blossoms into something deeper, and the more Wren learns about Marshall, the more she wants to know. Now all she can do is hope that the universe gets it right this time.
No excerpt available.
