Member Reviews

The Dream Daughter is a unique blend of historical fiction, a contemporary story, and a bit of magic. At the heart of this story is a young woman who is desperate to save her child, a young woman who would believe in and do something completely irrational and radical to ensure that her child is given every chance to survive. The book is a real page-turner, as we follow this incredible and thoughtful journey. At times, the book seemed a little far-fetched to me, so I had to let go of my own notions and just enjoy the ride!

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WOW!!!!!!!!!!! This book (just like all her others) was amazing!!!!!! I read this book in just 1 day and enjoyed every minute of this story. If you haven't read any Diane Chamberlain books yet you are seriously missing out.
Carly Sears is a physical therapist in 1970 and she introduces her sister to one of her patients who becomes her brother in law. Well Carly's husband dies in the Vietnam War but a few wks after she finds out she is pregnant. 6 mths into her pregnancy she finds out that her baby has a fatal heart problem. Then her brother in law tells her a story that forever changed the course of her life. You seriously don't want to miss out on this book. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this amazing novel.

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Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Diane Chamberlain for the ARC to review. I was drawn to this book by the cover. I have never read anything by Diane Chamberlain before, but I will read more of her books in the future. I really enjoyed this one.

I am not a fan of time travel but this story was different. I loved the story from beginning to end. If you had the chance to save your childs life by time travel would you. All you have to do is travel from 1970 to 1991, as soon as the child is well, find a portal and come home. Nothing is ever that simple, and so the story goes.
There were so many twists and turns in this story. I thought I had the ending all figured out, but the authors ending was brilliant.

This is a must read.

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This book has it all! A mother's devoted love for her daughter and a loving supportive family all wrapped into a can not put down book! It's 1970 and Carly finds out her daughter has a heart condition and will not survive after birth. Her brother in law Hunter tells her there is a chance her daughter can be saved. Carly just has to time travel to 2001! At first, Carly thinks Hunter has lost his mind but then she realizes she will do anything to save her daughter. This is an amazing story of a mother's ultimate love for her child. Carly is so incredibly brave and much stronger than she ever thought she could be. I was very sorry to see this book end as I didn't want to leave the characters. I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.

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4.5 stars

The year is 1970 and Caroline Sears baby has a heart defect and the baby needs surgery, and really does not have a chance. The only chance for her baby is to time travel to the time period that they have this surgery.

To save the baby, she would need to have feral surgery or it wouldn't have a chance to live. Carly's brother in law is a physicist and he knows how to time travel. Carly asks Hunter, How do you time travel and travel to the future? Hunter has it all figured out. Hunter tells her he would have to use his computer to find out exactly where and when she would step off. She asks him, "Step off, what are you talking about. He tells her there are naturally occurring gateways into time. They exist all around the U.S. There are infinite number of them and they are linked to a specific time and place. We call them portals. You have to figure out the exact - within seconds, less than 60 seconds at any rate - time you need to move into a specific portal to get to a particular time and place. You have to step off from something at least sixteen feet above the ground, either a roof of ledge, so that for a few seconds you are not earthbound. To be in the air untethered at the exact right moment.

This is a rich, genre -spanning breath taking novel about one mother's quest to save her child, unite her family and believe in the believable.

This is the second book that I have read about time travel and I loved both of them. I now want to read more books about time travel. It is so interesting. I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I just wanted it to go on forever and I didn't want it to end. I was captivated while reading this book. Time travel might be unrealistic but it was so interesting to explore another world in the future.

The characters were all well done. Their feelings were so real. There were so many emotions in this book and I felt all of them.
I loved the writing style. I am becoming a Diane Chamberlain fan and so far this is the best book that I read by her and I now want to devour more of her books.

I want to thank NetGalley, Diane Chamberlain and St. Martin's Press for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This book is wholeheartedly unexpected and refreshing. It is by far one of my favorite Diane Chamberlain books.
If you had an opportunity to save your unborn child by using time travel (which you don't really believe exists) would you? What if it means that saving your child could mean losing her at the same time?

These are the questions of a mother's love, family and faith that are explored throughout this book. Even if you're not a fan of sci fi or fantasy or time travel, give it a shot and I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised. It's fascinating to look at modern technology and events through the eyes of a woman from the 1970s...something we really don't stop to consider on a daily basis.

Beneath it all are Chamberlain's strengths as a writer. You're certain to get immersed in this beautiful writing and character development. Bravo Ms. Chamberlain. Bravo.

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This book hit a soft spot with me as soon as I read the premise. See, I have an older brother that passed from a heart issue in 1980. They didn’t know until after he was born and surgeries were still experimental then. So as I read this book, I often thought of my mom. What would she have done? If given the opportunity, would she of made the same choices?

The Dream Daughter is Chamberlain’s best yet. Just when I think I can’t love her writing more, she comes at me with this. The story draws you in from the very first chapter with the introduction of Hunter, an integral character in Carly’s story.

I was honestly a little surprised at the science fiction element that had a strong part in the story and upon the first introduction, wasn’t sure how it would go. But Chamberlain wove it in like the pro that she is. The book never took on a science fiction feel, even though the obvious element had everything to do with the heart stopping suspense of the novel.

There is so much love, loss, and strength in this story. What would we do to save our children? Would our choices be in their best interest, even if it breaks us? How in the hell do we possibly have the strength to make those choices? A mother’s love is a tremendous thing.

This is in my top books of the year. It kept hold of me, the characters and dialogue are incredibly genuine, and the story was so impressively thought out. I highly, highly recommend this to you. It is simply unforgettable.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own. (Out October 2)

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Loved getting an advance copy of this book. I love her books. It was different than her typical book but I loved it. It made me believe in time travel - lol. She did a great job of tying each time period together and it was such fun to reminisce about those periods of time. I suspect this will be a home run for her much like her other books!!

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I haven’t read a ton of Diane Chamberlain — after all, this is her 26th book and only the fourth that I’ve read — but I would consider myself a fan. I was so happy to get an email from St. Martin’s Press offering me an ARC of this book. St. Martin’s really is the best.

The premise was so interesting and definitely a big change from the kind of books I usually associate with Diane Chamberlain. Time travel books can be pretty hit or miss for me, and I was a little concerned that I wouldn’t be able to suspend my disbelief at that aspect of the story, but it ended up working out pretty well. I can’t really tell you whether the method of time travel is at all realistic, but it seems to make sense within the context of the book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it’s not my favorite of Chamberlain’s. It raised interesting questions of how far you’d go to save your child and what you’d do to ensure your child’s happiness. I struggled a little bit with the pacing and I didn’t always connect with the characters, but it was a good story.

If you enjoy books like The Time Traveler’s Wife, I would absolutely recommend it.

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This book was....different....for sure. I really, really Diane Chamberlain's writing so when I saw this on netgalley, I had to try for it. The whole concept of the book is rather far fetched. I mean, ultimately I kept reading, which is always a sign of a good book, but I kept thinking, "WHY AM I STILL READING THIS?!"

It was an entertaining book....albeit a little strange.

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It's 1970 and Caroline is a young widow ... her husband has just been killed in Vietnam. When she discovers she is pregnant, she is ecstatic but that turns to devastation when she learns that her unborn child has a birth defect and won't live after it's born. Her sister's husband, Hunter, comes to Caroline with a solution to save her baby's life and she has to put a lot of trust in him to make it happen ... and she does.

And that's all I can say because I don't want to give anything away. I started reading this book without reading other reviews so was pleasantly surprised at the direction the book took as it's a genre I enjoy. And just when I thought things were going to work out for Caroline, there was a new twist I didn't see coming.

I liked the writing style and enjoyed the story. It bounces around in different time periods and voices but the chapters are marked as to what the time period is and whose voice it is. It is written in first person perspective from Caroline and Hunter's points of view. I liked the characters, except I found Hunter's mother to be a bit too cold and harsh. As a head's up, there is swearing.

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This book grabbed me from the very beginning. It begins in the 1960s with our main character Carly as she is starting to work in a hospital and about to meet Hunter who is labeled as a difficult patient but will make a break through with her. After their introduction you will see why this novel is different. Why did Hunter know the Beatles song that had never been played before? I have never been very interested in the 60/70s time period before I was born so if you feel the same way don’t let that stop you from reading this book. While the era is important it works well and also does not stay there for long. There is a lot of references to Vietnam though so if that’s a difficult subject for you than it could be difficult to read here.

At the heart of this story is what we will do for love. For the love our spouse but even more for the love a child. This is very much a story of a mother’s love for her child and what that love will mean. Carly is a very sympathetic narrator and I really enjoyed her. I did think the hospital scenes should have been condensed but they were told well. There is a lot about premies in a NICU if that’s a hard subject to read about be warned.

It is a very moving novel with a lot of bittersweet moments. It is definitely not a novel that will have a true happy ending but it is still very much worth the journey. I do have some issues with some of the choices made. I can see that they were to get to the ending but I still think we could have investigated other options. I had never heard of this author before but I will definitely be looking forward to her next novel and until then I’m excited to check out her previous works. This is a novel that’s hard to review without giving away the material so go ahead and jump in even though you’re not sure what to expect.

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As a reader and a reviewer, this is the first novel By Diane Chamberlain that I have read, but it certainly won't be the last. This author certainly knows how to make the absolutely worst things happen to her characters, and I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. I could never predicted how the author would resolve Caroline, the main character's, dilemma, and I was surprised and completely satisfied with the ending. I can't wait to read more of her books.

I posted this on my Twitter account, on Goodreads and my website annepisacano.com

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What would a mother do to save the life of her unborn child? Would she travel forward in time? Yes I said time travel. I normally do not enjoy or even attempt to read sci fi books but this one was very different. It was a little sci fi without the heavy science discussions. Carly, living in 1970 finds out her unborn child has a heart defect. Her husband was killed in Vietnam and this baby is all she has left. But in 1970 there is no hope for the child. Enter Hunter her brother in law. He tells her this crazy story about how he came from the future and wants to send her to 2001 to get help for her child. You will fall in love with these characters. You will want things to work out for them. You wait along with Hunter and Patti to see if the time travel works. I don't want to spoil the ending but this is a book you need to read.

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I have read a few of this author's titles and have liked all of them, although this storyline is different from her others.
The book follows a woman by the name of Carly, who has just found out she is pregnant after being told that her husband, Joe, has perished in Vietnam. All she has left is her sister Patti, her brother-in-law Hunter, and their small son. Carly is then told about a defect her baby has that is fatal. Hunter comes to her with a way to fix the problem that is part unbelievable and part terrifying to think about. Carly then has to make the choice of whether she will go that far to possibly save her child.
I am a mother and I found myself, at some points, ready to close the book and stop reading. I don't think I have ever been so emotionally torn over a book like this before. It was just hard for me at some parts to deal with as a mother. That being said, I did enjoy the book, and I loved how the ending came together.

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I absolutely loved this book! In 1970, Carly Sears has just lost her husband in the Vietnam War and then finds out her unborn daughter has a heart defect that will kill her. Her brother in law, Hunter Poole, reveals to her that he was actually born in 1986 and his mother is physicist who discovered a way to travel through time. He can send her through a portal to 2001 where doctors can operate on her unborn baby to save her. After the surgery, Carly and her baby can travel back to 1970 through another portal to resume their lives. It is an incredible story of the lengths a mother will go to for her child. It is so interesting to read Carly's reactions to life in 2001 and later 2013. It's similar to The Time Traveler's Wife although the time travel itself is much more scientific. It definitely requires the suspension of disbelief but it is an incredible story so it's not hard to do.

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Well, well, well! This was sure a pleasant surprise read. Women's fiction is not my usual genre, but it has time travel, so how could I go wrong?!

This is an excellent story about a 1970's soon to be mother to a child that has a heart issue. This story must be read to be understood and I am afraid to say anymore for fear of giving too much away.

My thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced readers copy.

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A different take on time travel fiction that tests a mother’s bravery, resolve, sacrifice and ultimately the love for her child. A touching plot with many twists, Chamberlain keeps things interesting with The Dream Daughter.

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How I loved this book and I’ll admit it – I had a very big cry at the end.

It’s a page turner for sure and each time I held my breath, thinking I knew exactly what would happen, Diane Chamberlain would throw the perfect curve ball. I could visualize the story as it unfolding and I would love to see this made into a movie.

It started so simply. It’s the sixties. Newbie physical therapist, Carly Grants starts working with her first patient, Hunter Poole. He’s strange but there is something familiar about him. She eventually introduces Hunter to her sister, Patti who is a fourth-grade teacher. Carly thinks they might make a good match.

Carly’s dream comes true as she marries the love of her life and military man, Joe. Vietnam looms as does the controversy of the war. Carly and her young husband must temporarily part and Carly seeks the support and reassurance of her sister and Hunter.

What Carly quickly learns is that Hunter has secrets, colossal life changing secrets that if revealed could put their lives or their freedom in jeopardy.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

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How far would you go to save your unborn child?

The year is 1970, and you've been told that your unborn baby has a fatal heart defect. Sonograms are in their infancy, and fetal surgery will not be attempted until 1981; it will not become easily available until after 2001. Do you choose to push the limits of time and space to save your child?

Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam war and touching on the events of September 11, Diane Chamberlain has crafted a moving story about the depths of a mother's love and the importance of family.

I highly recommend this title.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free digital copy of this title to review from Net Galley.

#TheDreamDaughter#NetGalley

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