Debbie Macomber is one of my favorite authors.and this book reminded me of why. Any Dream Will Do is a story of starting over and redemption. This book, to me, was different from her usual subjects. While not preachy, it had a good message about the power of faith and second chances which are wonderful to read about. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I felt this book was a bit of a departure for Debbie Macomber. I did find the book very intriguing. I literally could not put it down. I knew from the first chapter this book was going to be a bit of a roller coaster and it was, but not in a bad way. The characters were all very well developed. We should always look at people the way Pastor Drew did! Definitely a great read!

“I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.”

"Any dream will do. Allow yourself to dream.”

This is a different romance than others I've read of Debbie Macomber's. It is a faith based Christian romance. That's definitely not a bad thing, just different than other books of hers, at least the ones I've read.

Shay Benson has had a hard life. She was physically abused as a child, grew up without a mother, fell in with the wrong crowd. She started getting her life turned around and end up for three years in prison after helping her brother - an act she knew was a mistake but did anyway.

When she gets off the bus in downtown Seattle after being released from prison, she is at a terribly low spot in her life and ends up sitting at the back of a church, trying to figure out what she can do with her life.

Pastor Drew Douglas is in his church praying, trying to find some meaning in his life. His wife died of cancer three years ago and he has two young children and no joy in living.

These two wounded people find each other and find that the other fills an empty place in their heart that nothing else has done.

This was a well thought out story with romance, love, faith, answers to prayers, hope and dreaming big.

I received this book from Random House through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.

Any Dream Will Do, written by Debbie Macomber, is the newest release from this author. Whenever I start a book by this author, I know I am in for a wonderful treat. The powerful and uplifting message in this story exceeded all of my expectations!

Shay Benson is a woman trying to change her life for the better. She is working as a teller at a bank, and is planning to go to college to take accounting classes. She has one major flaw, and that is her love for her younger brother, Caden. They lost their mother at a young age, their father was abusive, and Shay feels responsible for him. They have both made wrong choices in life, but unlike Shay who is trying to learn from those mistakes and move forward, Caden just seems to always be in some kind of trouble. Caden goes to Shay for help one more time...this time he needs five thousand dollars in order to stay alive. Unfortunately, he is asking her for help that will cost her in more ways than one!

Pastor Drew Douglas is still reeling from the loss of his wife three years earlier. He is trying to hold his family together, in addition to leading his congregation, and he feels as if he is failing at both. He is alone in the church, praying over feeling so completely lost, when he hears a noise at the back of the church He turns around to see a young woman standing there...and she looks just as lost as he is.

The story that unfolds is brilliantly crafted and told. Debbie Macomber is a master storyteller...with well thought out storylines and truly realistic characters. Her words always flow easily through the pages, and will have you completely invested in the story from the first page until the very last. This is a story about two lost souls, both needing to find strength to move on from the past. Shay and Drew are as different as night and day, but underneath the outside appearance, actually compliment each other extremely well. Their friendship is a beautiful one built on faith and also trust. The supporting characters are just as important, and give perfect balance to the storyline.

This is a story that has everything...love, loss, faith, friendship, strength, and courage. Strength to move on when life throws you a curve ball. Courage to learn from your mistakes and make a positive change. Most importantly, finding and holding onto your faith to get you through even the worst of times. It is never an easy process, and the author manages to portray the struggles of these two characters perfectly. The message of this story is powerful and uplifting...a message that will stay with you long after finish this story.

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. My views are my own and are in no way influenced by anyone else.

Any Dream Will Do is a pleasant, undemanding escape. The book revolves around Shay, who has just been released from prison, and details her path back into society, and back into a positive life. Any Dream Will Do would make a good gift for an older, church-going relative.

Debbie Macomber once again has written a book that is sure to please each of her loyal fans as well as many new readers. What a fabulous story of someone with a rough past making changes and going through the different stages of making these changes. It was not just a feel-good, easy on the ears kind of a story. This showed the nitty-gritty of the struggles for both Lily and Drew to deal with these difficult circumstances. Thank you Debbie!!!

Any Dream Will Do is the third book in Debbie Macomber's Second Chances series. Shay Benson has spent three years in prison because she was lured into helping her brother. When she is released, the prison bus stops in front of a Seattle church. On such a chilly day and with nowhere to go she enters the sanctuary seeking warmth. What she finds is a second chance.

Pastor Drew Douglas has been struggling since the death of his wife Katie,, who succumbed to ovarian cancer. He is doing his best for their two children, but he is hollow inside and lost. As he is praying at the front of the church, a beleaguered young woman carrying an old fashioned suitcase enters. He was praying for help, for a sign, and here is this person in need.

And thus begins a story of how second chances come when least expected from the most unlikely sources. The plot twists, the storyline keeps you guessing, and we all root for a happy ending. Debbie Macomber again weaves an interesting story of people from different walks of life. I do recommend this book

Shay Benson is a felon having served time for embezzling money from her employer to help her younger brother pay off loan sharks. Drew Douglas is a widower with three young children. He is pastor of the church where Shay seeks shelter after being released from prison.

"Any Dream Will Do" is about Shay's and Drew's lives; how they sometimes take separate paths and at other times intersect.

The story started out a little slow for me, but in true Macomber style, eventually pulled me in with interesting characters and their developing relationships.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is definitely the most uplifting book I’ve read this year. After reading many deep and troubling novels, some that I just couldn’t finish, I was so happy to come across this gem that is filled with hope and love! Shay Benson made bad choices in her life, but was on her way up when she makes the worst choice ever, which was to illegally help her worthless brother out of a financial jam. Needless to say, Shay pays the price for this horrible lapse in judgement by spending three years in prison. After her release, she meets Drew, a widowed pastor, who is also searching for what is missing in his life. He directs her to a fresh start at a halfway house. Shay’s dream of rehabilitation and a good clean life come together with the help of Drew, his children and a community of friends, but not without a few bumps in the road. These bumps are what make this story so very wonderful and realistic. I cannot recommend this book enough. As I said, very uplifting without being too preachy. Have a tissue or two handy!
Thanks so much to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this advanced copy.
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This isn't a typical romance. I really enjoyed it. It moved me to tears too. It is all about love, sacrifice, second chances and redemption. The hero and heroine are not the typical types. A pastor and an ex-con. Although Shay isn't the criminal type, she did spend 3 years in prison. Drew had suffered a great loss when his wife died and left him with 2 children. Shay came into his life and helped him to see that he needed to live again, not just exist. So many are against their relationship and the question is what are they willing to sacrifice to be together.

So we have Shay who apparently has had a horrible upbringing, sleeping around and dating a drug dealer and then up in jail for embezzlement so she could help her brother. After 3 years she is let out of jail and she ends up in a Church to get warm and to figure out what to do with her life.

Drew is a pastor that is struggling with his life ever since his wife died 3 years ago and left him with 2 children.

Drew helps Shay get into Hope House to get her a new lease on life. Even though they don't really ever see each other they think about each other all the time.

It was a cute romance but the background and character development was lacking. If Shay was this bad ass girl, you couldn't tell cuz she was so cute and fluttery all the time.

Shay becomes friends with Drew when she seeks shelter from the cold in his church. He's a widower with two children and wants to help Shay find a job and a place to live. Their friendship becomes more as they learn more about each other and and the children come to love Shay. When money is stolen from the church Shay is accused. She didn't do it but knows who did and promised not to tell. This is a story of faith and love. Debbie Macomber is a master with this line. Never too preachy but a nice balance of love mixed with faith.

I was taken by surprise by the Christian themes and obvious romantic plot in this book. I also felt that the very beginning where she steals money for her brother was a little unbelievable. Couldn't get past the first 25% of the e-book, and wouldn't recommend. There are better Macomber books to read than this.

When I see the name "Debbie Macomber" on a book jacket, I know I am in for a treat. Her books are filled with uplifting emotion that make the reader want to keep turning the pages. This book, ANY DREAM WILL DO, features two people who have had heartbreak in their lives. The story line weaves around their lives and learning to have faith enough to love again. It is a little darker than some of Ms. Macomber's work, but no less special. I felt encouragement in Shay's experiences and convictions. This truly is a feel good story that is well worth your time. Highly recommend!

Debbie Macomber does it again with her latest book. One of the themes in this book, second chances, is one that Macomber often writes about but this time the presentation is different. The author is dealing with a wide-spread problem in today's America but is presented with a different style. One can find the storyline through the children, Shay and Drew, as well as their various friends and foes. Congratulations, Debbie, for taking a social problem and addressing it with the truth and, yet, having light-hearted/humor intertwined in the story. I thank NetGallery and Ballantine Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An Ex-Con and a Pastor Find Love

Shay has just been released from prison for embezzling from the bank she worked for. The victim of an abusive father, a mother who died young, and a manipulative brother, Shay hasn’t had much of a chance. She pulled away from a relationship with Shooter, a drug dealer, but when her brother owed money to Shooter and others, she felt she needed to get the money for him and took it from the bank.

Feeling that she’s lost her chance at a good life, Shay is lonely and depressed when she gets off the bus from prison. It’s freezing and there’s a church in front of her. She enters to get warm, and it changes her life.

Drew Douglas, pastor of the church, feels that he is losing his faith after his wife’s death. He’s praying when Shay walks in. Meeting her, he wants to help and by helping gives them both a chance at a more fulfilling life.

This is a Christian romance. The emotion between Drew and Shay is powerful, but all at the level of propriety, no bedroom scenes. Shay has a hard time giving up her defensive attitude to accept help and friendship from others. I found this the most realistic part of the book.

As usual in a romance, the course of love doesn’t run smooth. In this case, it’s due to Shooter and Shay’s brother reappearing in her life, as well as her prison past coming back to haunt her. I enjoyed the book. Some of it seemed too good to be true. However, it was an enjoyable, quick read.

If you like Christian romance, Debbie Macomber is always a good choice.

Loved, loved this book. Redemption, second chances and forgiveness are important lessons to learn in life and Debbie showcased all of these admirably in this book.

Any Dream Will Do by Debbie Macomber was the perfect read for me this summer! This book is all about starting over, finding faith, forgiveness, redemption, change and of course, romance. It remained true to Ms. Macomber's writing style of realistic characters, well defined relationships and a good strong plot full of clean romance.

What really touched my heart the most was the sub-themes Ms. Macomber wove into her story. Those of faith, redemption, forgiveness, finding one's self and living true to that self. Accepting someone for who they are and not turning away from them if they aren't who we usually would socialize or reach out to.

We all have made poor choices and mistakes; some big and some small. Some with repercussions that quickly pass and others that can last a life time. Within this book, Ms. Macomber showed that anything can be accomplished through God's love and faith if we just reach out to Him.

Any Dream Will Do is a heart touching story that is well written and moved me emotionally on many levels. I highly recommend it!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Ms. Macomber, Ballentine Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Any Dream Will Do is a wonderful story of the power of faith, of love and of redemption. I was caught up in the book in the first chapter and could not put it down. Debbie Macomber writes such beautiful stories with the element of faith woven in and I always enjoy the time I spend reading one of her books. This one is no exception.

Shay Benson feels a strong sense of loyalty to her brother Caden and that loyalty costs her dearly. She is lost and alone when she stumbles upon a church with an open door. She finds her way in from the cold and is confronted by the pastor (Drew Douglas) who reaches out to her and wants to help her get on her feet.

As the story progresses, Shay finds herself growing stronger in her convictions and in her ability to stand on her own two feet. Drew is drawn to her as he befriends her and he realizes that he is starting to develop feelings towards her.

The congregation that Drew serves is skeptical of his relationship with her and does its best to discourage him from helping her. They are more concerned about appearances than about helping someone in need. When a crisis occurs that puts Shay in danger, Drew stands up for her and is willing to turn his back on his calling to that church.

Just as they are feeling that things are finally working out for them, an incident in the church threatens to undo the trust that Shay has built up in herself as well as in Drew and his family. The outcome depends on Shay betraying a secret which she is reluctant to do.

The romance that develops between Drew and Shay is a sweet one which grows slowly through the book. They both have pain in their lives… Drew is a widower who lost his wife and the mother of his two children…..Shay was betrayed by her brother and paid an awful price so trust is hard to come by. Watching them help each other come to a place of freedom and of redemption was the best part of the book.

I would recommend this book without hesitation and offer here my honest review.

Loved this book. As always Debbie Macomber never disappoints. You always know that it will have a happy ending but that is why I enjoy her books and recommend them to friends and when I am working in the bookstore. Thanks so much for the advanced copy!