Member Reviews
I enjoyed this story of redemption and faith. It was both uplifting and thought provoking. As usual Debbie Macomber has written another wonderful book.
Shay Benson adored her younger brother, Caden, and that got her into trouble. When he owed money, she realized she would give up everything for him. Now, determined to start fresh, she finds herself in search of a place to stay and wanders into a church to escape from the cold. Pastor Drew Douglas lost his wife. Now, as he too is thinking about a fresh start, he walks through his sanctuary and finds Shay sitting in a pew. The pair strike up a friendship—Drew helps Shay get back on her feet, and she reignites his sense of purpose.When Caden returns to town, it threatens to destroy everything Shay has rebuilt.
I do love a book about second chances. This is much more faith based than the other Debbie Macomber books, but I didn’t mind. In fact, if you are looking for a good love story….but don’t enjoy the sexy talk, this would be for you. There is no graphic scenes in the book. I really loved the main characters in this book, you get to know them on an emotional level and there is a lot of development. This story is rich with deep emotion and intense feelings. I feel like the ending was perfect as well, it wasn’t rushed at all.
Bottom Line: I enjoyed this one. If you are looking for a story about hope, faith, second chances…this is for you.
**I received a copy of Any Dream Will Do from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**
Shay Benson loves her brother, Caden. When he reaches out to her in desperation for help, what is she to do? She put family over her job and the law and paid a price for it. Once she gets out of prison, she finds herself at rock bottom and desperate for a place to go and finds a church. The pastor Drew is a widower with 2 kids. He is able to get her to a place that helps Shay back on her feet. Shay ends up becoming a very important part of his family’s life. Then, Shay’s brother shows back up and their trust and friendship is strained to the breaking point. Will Shay and Drew be able to survive this?
Debbie Macomber is an auto-buy author for me, so when I was given the opportunity to review one of her books, I jumped on it. This one really struck a chord with me. In our society, we are so quick to judge people based on their past, their background, or even our prejudices. It’s so easy to be cynical and see the bad in people, and so hard to believe that there is good in them. Obviously, you can’t break the law and expect to not get punished. While I felt that Shay got the raw end of that deal, there are consequences for actions. I found myself getting angry and irritated with characters in this book on behalf of Shay. Macomber gives you a protagonist in this book that you just want to cheer for. I thoroughly adored this book and gave it a 4 out of 5 stars.
Thanks to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Warning!!!!!!!!!!! Do not read this book when you have to work the next day, because you won't want to put it down and then you will be up all night reading.
I loved this book, I never knew what to expect and I just could not stop reading. Shay has not had an easy life and she has made choices she regrets, after being released from prison Drew is the 1st person she meets and he helps her get her.
It is so refreshing to read a book that is not loaded with sex.
I highly recommend this book. Thank you netgalley and Random House Publishing for allowing me to read this wonderful book for an honest review.
ANY DREAM WILL DO is the fourth book in the New Beginnings series. I’m going to guess that they each stand alone. I did not know that it was part of a series until I completed reading and started to write up the information for this review. Now I wish I had the rest of the books!
I have read many Debbie Macomber books over the years and I love the Mrs. Miracle movies at Christmas time. So, I was thrilled to be contacted about reading and reviewing this story for Ballantine Books.
Courage and faith are common themes in Ms. Macomber’s books, but they are put to the test here. Shay has paid dearly for her misguided loyalty to her brother. So many people in this story learn to open up, to look beyond the obvious, and to be more Christian as they should.
It is a wonderful, feel-good, story in the best of ways. It has kept me smiling through some of the toughest of days.
Note: while I was given this book as a gifted ARC, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
I have always been a Debbie Macomber fan and enjoy most of her books. This book, however, spoke to my soul. I love how it shows how the heart is full of love for everyone if you are open to it. This is a story of compassion and second chances. Beautifully written with characters I felt as if I know.
Who doesn’t love Debbie Macomber? In ‘Any Dream Will Do’, Debbie brings a story of faith, friendship, redemption, love, and second chances with this one. She creates characters that you connect with on every level. Five stars for this book!
Shay loves her brother, Caden, with all her heart. Their upbringing was less than stellar and she always felt it was up to her to care for him. They both ran around with people they shouldn’t. The difference? Shay was turning her life around but Caden was digging himself into a deeper hole. Caden comes to Shay, begging for her help, and of course she feels she has to step in. The problem? Caden’s plan wound up Shay spending 3 years in prison.
The very day of her release Shay meets Drew, a local pastor. The two strike up a friendship. Drew has recently lost his wife to cancer and is struggling to keep himself together. He’s prayed for guidance and it comes in the unlikely form of an ex-convict. Drew gets Shay into a program that is ran by a friend of his that will help get Shay back on her feet and her life begins to change... again. Shay has real friends now and people who love her in her life. She has grown close to Drew and his children.
Debbie brings forth the question of ‘is this God’s will or my want?’ in this beautiful story. Can these two opposites find love and forgiveness with each other? When Caden comes slinking back into Shay’s life, will she turn him away or risk everything she’s worked so hard for him again?
Another winner by Debbie Macomber...Enjoyed every page of this novel...You will too. Five stars.
I don't know how she does it but EVERY book I've read written by this woman leaves me with a feeling of being engulfed in a huge hug. What more can I say.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Once again, Debbie Macomber released a book that tugs at your heart stings, makes you smile, laugh, cry, and most importantly- think.
Shay loves her younger brother, Caden, and would do anything to help and protect him. Although she has a troubled past, she is trying to save him from the same path. So when he comes to her, begging to borrow a large sum of money because some people are after him, she can't tell him no. Even when she knows he has no intent or way to pay her back. Because of this, she spends 3 years in prison.
Shay realizes her life will never be the same when she is released, and she's determined to not repeat the same mistakes in life again. With no place to stay, and the bitter cold temperatures on the street, she wanders into a Church to try to warm up. But, she isn't in there alone.
Pastor Drew has been struggling since the loss of his wife, Katie, to cancer. He finds it's hard to properly run a congregation, and raise his son and daughter on his own. His only solace is to turn to God for the strength to continue, and the guidance to lead the way. Then he sees Shay sitting in the pew.
Drew gets Shay into a program that will help her start over, receive the guidance and counseling she needs, as well as help find a place of her own and a job. They slowly form a friendship, that is not only beneficial to Shay, but to Drew and his children as well.
Could Shay be the answer to Drew's prayers? Is there a chance of happiness and love for either of them again? Remember- any dream will do.
Though born into a life we did not ask for, at some point, we make our own decisions about our present and future. Macomber’s book, “Any Dream Will Do,” follows Shay as she pulls herself out of poverty and a path leading to destruction. Shay hits many obstacles in her efforts to redeem herself and live a productive life; some of these are her own doing and others are due to people’s assumptions and stereotypes.
This book, like others by Macomber, introduces scripture and other Christian faith based commentary. Though the book is not overly religious and does not preach to the reader, the religious influence is evident. Macomber introduces readers to relevant societal issues such as homelessness and drug addiction, while also addressing grief and recovery. If you like stories with moral dilemmas, relationship struggles, and eventual redemption, then “Any Dream will Do,” is going to be a good fit.
Debbie Macomber is one of my favorite authors. She has the ability to bring someone into the stories, no matter what the plot is. What I enjoyed most about this book was that she was able to keep her wholesome story while integrating a more negative aspect into it--drugs. Debbie shows that even in wholesome, loving situations, drugs can permeate and attempt to destroy. I like how she brought in characters that were less than perfect and still managed to provide a feel-good redeemable story with hope.
This is Debbie Macomber's 4th book in the New Beginnings series.
I love all of the "new beginings". These are all second chance books.
In this book, Shay Benson goes above and beyond to protect her brother Caden. Even going so far as to go to jail for him.
Now that she is out of jail, she is determined to start fresh and have a new beginning.
She finds herself searching for somewhere to get out of the cold and wanders into a church. There she meets Pastor Drew Douglas and the two form a bond of friendship. Drew does what he can to help Shay get back on her feet. Even Drew's children fall for Shay.
Shay begins to rebuild a life for herself. Her brother Cayden tracks her down and his reappearance could spell disaster for Shay. The new life she has built for herself is about to tumble down on her.
Will Drew stand by her side, or will he buckle under the pressure?
5 stars
well written, and overall an enjoyable read - even if slightly trite
Picking up a book by Ms. Macomber is like a balm for the soul. While this starts out a little differently from her others, the wonderful storytelling we've come to expect is still there. She has a gift for creating magic on the pages. I love Shay immediately. Getting out of prison after three years, she feels all is lost. Until a kind stranger helps guide her where a future may be possible after all. This spans over a year so friendship and romance slowly develop. Pastor Drew is a rare breed of man who sees the good in others. If you're looking for a gentle romance, look no further.
When I want sweet romance with a HEA ending I often turn to Debbie Malcomber's books. Any Dream will Do is no exception, Shay is looking to start over and with the help of some amazing people and a certain widowed pastor and his children she may have found the path that will lead her to her very own happy ever after, but we all know it doesn't come without some bumps and setbacks. Great story!
This is one of Debbie Macomber best books yet! I didn't want to put it down--I literally read while I was making dinner for my kiddos. The story was definitely painful at times, but wow... what a worthwhile ending!
I enjoyed very much Any Dream will do. I loved the message about not judging a person from past mistakes. ☆☆☆☆☆ rating.
Always enjoy Debbie Macomber books! Very enjoyable reads from her.
Sometimes you want to read a nice book, a hopeful book. Debbie Macomber rarely fails to deliver.