The Lost Hearts

The year 1937 hasn’t been very kind to Alexis Scott. A bookish, Harvard anthropology student, she’s dodged mass scrutiny by hiding in the Boston Society of Natural History for the last seven years. Sure, she’s been lonely. But at least life in the margins is familiar, even comfortable. And what about Philip? Handsome, charming, obscenely rich, he’s the only man who’s ever accepted her eccentricities, even if she can’t quite figure him out. These are the convincing inflections of uncertainty as Alexis boards the Oceanic, a transatlantic ship that will take her to the remote island of New Guinea where she is to locate a lost tribe.

On the island, Alexis hires a guide to lead her through the nearly impenetrable jungle of New Guinea. Trevor McFadden isn’t exactly the ideal travel companion she needs on this expedition. He might be attractive in a nail-biting, visceral kind of way, but he’s short-tempered, coarse, and frequently cruel. So why does he get under her skin? Trevor pushes, and Alexis pushes back as they navigate the sodden terrain of the southern Highlands, replete with humorous cultural gaffes, first contact with insulated tribes, treacherous encounters with wildlife, and sinister characters.

As harrowing as it is poignant, The Lost Hearts is a tale of romance and perseverance in the face of self-doubt. It’s a story for anyone who’s ever been given the chance to live up to their wildest dreams.