The trail of lost hearts

Wren Waters flies from Dayton to Oregon to do some geocaching after the death of her fiancé Rob. On the trail, she meets Marshall, who saves her from two bad guys, and the two decide to team up to find more caches around the state. Wren isn't interested in romance--she's still reeling from the secret revealed after Rob's death--but the two soon fall into a fling. When Wren's time in Oregon is up, Marshall wants to continue their relationship, but he's dealing with his own secret pain, and Wren isn't ready to give her heart to someone who isn't fully open to her. Then, back in Ohio, Wren makes a life-changing discovery. She believes the universe gives you what you need, and she is convinced Marshall isn't it, no matter how much he lingers in her memory. Graves (Heard It in a Love Song, 2021) has written another refreshingly mature romantic tale as Wren refuses to compromise, and Marshall struggles with his demons. Despite several bombshells in the plot, The Trail of Lost Hearts is a quietly emotional gem that will resonate with readers.

Bestseller Graves (On the Island) skillfully tugs on the heartstrings in this nuanced tale of two lost souls finding each other on an Oregon hiking trail. After Wren Waters's fiancé, Rob, dies in a car crash, she discovers he was keeping a shocking secret. To heal, she takes up geocaching, or searching for hidden objects on hiking trails using a GPS, and travels from Dayton, Ohio, to Eugene, Ore., for a week-long expedition. Enter psychologist Marshall Hendricks, who's mourning the death of his free-spirited brother, Graham. After Marshall saves Wren from an assault by two creepy guys on the trail, the two decide to travel together for the remainder of Wren's time in Oregon. Their attraction burns hot and fast, but both are wary of opening their hearts, and Wren ultimately heads home in frustration--only to find their relationship isn't so easily severed. Graves shows how two people can find connection even at their darkest moments while serving up a satisfyingly twisty and realistic plot. Readers who like for their tearjerkers to come with happy endings should check this out. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Mar.)This review had been edited to remove spoilers and correct a factual error.