Member Reviews
It's 1970 and Carly finds herself pregnant right after being notified of her husband's death in the Vietnam war. The baby has a life threatening heart valve diagnosis and most likely will not make it to term. But Carly's brother in law offers a solution that's too fantastical to comprehend. Carly must choose and thats when things unravel.
This was a very emotional read. However, this was not my favorite by Diane Chamberlain. The novel tended to slog and there some scenes that were very repetitive. I think it would have been a more enjoyable story if it was shorter. Still, Diane is one of my favorite favorite authors, and I definitely interested to see what other works she has in store for us!
I have to say that this is not the sort of story/plot I would usually read. However, I am so pleased I moved out of my comfort zone and read The Dream Daughter. I cannot say that I have ever believed in time travel but this book made it seem possible and plausible. I really enjoyed reading this book and thoroughly recommend it to others.
This was my first book by Diane Chamberlain, but it will not be my last! I loved this time travel book. It reminded me a lot of About Time and The Time Traveler's Wife and I love the types of dilemmas introduced in this type of story. This one was so fascinating and I fell in love with all of the characters. It was so well done and highly readable.
I loved everything about this book! Diane Chamberlain always does an amazing job of writing a wonderful story, but The Dream Daughter takes it to another level.
Carly Sears has just lost her husband in the Vietnam War and finds herself pregnant but the baby has a heart defect that will most likely be fatal. How much more can one person handle? Her brother-in-law Hunter proposes what seems like a preposterous and unlikely idea, but what mother wouldn't take any opportunity to try and save her child.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but I was completely drawn into this story and loved every minute.
I truly enjoyed every little nuance and twist that Diane Chamberlain made in this narrative. It was a dream to read and a story that will stay with me long after. Five stars and a highly recommend from me!
I received this book courtesy of St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Diane Chamberlain has taken a dream or maybe a fantasy here in this story that I think a few mothers have dreamed about. Being able to travel through time to save their child. To be given a chance to change or do something more for your unhealthy child. She took my dream and wrote a heartbreaking and heartwarming story that brought life to this fantasy and made the unbelievable so real for me.
The Dream Daughter blends the unrealistic dream of time traveling with the story of a mother’s love, hope and sacrifices for her unhealthy unborn child. Diane Chamberlain captures the length a heartbroken mother will go to save her child. Going on only hope and faith in her brother-in-law she risks everything and takes a chance to change the path for her unborn child.
This story pulled at my momma heartstrings and left this non-crier looking for tissues after finishing this story. I highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Diane Chamberlain for a copy to read and review.
I've enjoyed novels by this author in the past and this one didn't disappoint. It was thoroughly enjoyable with just enough magic to make it interesting.
I loved how the various characters crossed each others paths as the story developed and how certain mysteries were explained by the end.
I was skeptical going into the story but I am glad I decided to get out of my comfort zone and give it a try. I am not a huge fun of time travel/science fiction gentries. However, this book is so much more. It's about unconditional love of a mother who will do anything and everything for her daughter. Well witted plot that flows beautifully.
This book has an interesting concept with time travel, the idea of going forward to help save a child is thought provoking .
This book started off really engaging and interesting but I was a little put off by the time travel aspect. I ended up pushing through and enjoying this book. It really shows the love for your children and the perservance mothers have.
The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain is a 2018 St. Martin’s Press publication.
A frenetic, heart wrenching, but captivating story of strength, hope, and love-
It’s 1970-
Caroline ‘Carly’ Sears is newly widowed and expecting her first child. If this weren’t stressful enough, her doctors believe her unborn child may have a fatal heart defect. With her sister and brother-in-law by her side, Carly may need to accept the reality that her child will die soon after she is born.
Hunter, a physicist, has a tough decision to make. Upon hearing of his sister-in-law’s prognosis, he knows he can save her child. How? By traveling back to the future.
As it happens, Hunter is from 2018, but he traveled back in time after his wife dies, meets Carly, then her sister, whom he marries, and starts a family with. He’s carved out a nice life for himself and is content. But, he is willing to risk it all for Carly and her baby. Will she believe he is from the future? Is she brave enough to travel into the future? Will she be able to return to 1970? How will the truth effect Hunter’s marriage to Carly's sister?
I’ve been sitting on this book for a while. I knew it would be good because Diane Chamberlain has never disappointed me. The early reviews were amazing. But, I still procrastinated, waiting for the day the book called out to me.
After I finished the book, I just couldn’t find the words to write a review. So, I procrastinated some more. I hope I can do the book justice, especially after reading so many wonderful reviews of this amazing book!
As I have said many times, time travel is a hard sell for me. But, this may be the most realistic and believable depiction of time travel possibilities I have ever read. However, it is the mother’s love for her child that resonates, that makes the risks worth it.
The story is also one of the most suspenseful novels of its kind I’ve ever read. The emotions are raw, tangible, almost physical. I was riveted, held captive by this story, the suspense nearly intolerable, but I was simply unable to tear myself away from it.
The characters are eclectic, Carly is obviously the most sympathetic, while others are an enigma. The twists and turns are breathtaking, surreal, and pulse pounding, holding me on the edge of my seat, with my heart in my throat.
This novel is so well constructed, so thought provoking, poignant and soul- stirring!! I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it before. Chamberlain’s novels always leave an impression on me, but this one captured my imagination, and left me reeling with emotions. I loved it! Loved it! This one is imprinted on my brain and in my heart and I promise it will not fade from my consciousness for a long time to come!!
5+ stars
Caroline is pregnant. She has recently lost her husband in Vietnam and this baby is all she has left of him. Then she finds out something is fatally wrong with her baby. Her brother-in-law has a solution. Can she do what he suggests? It will take a complete and scary leap of faith.
I don’t even know where to start! I have to be careful what I say…I do not want to give away a spoiler. This book has so many twists and turns. You do not know where or when you will end up. And just when you think you know what is next, it changes again.
Caroline is one of the most amazing characters ever. She is resilient and brave. She goes above and beyond to take care of her baby. Through every mishap and struggle, Caroline is thinking about Joanna.
The blurb of this novel gives nothing away. People are giving it away in their reviews. I am not going to do that. I would not have read this novel if I had read some of the reviews, even though almost all of the reviews are extremely complimentary. This is not really something I like to read about. But, by the time I read what Hunter wanted Caroline to do, I was already invested in what was going to happen to her baby. I can’t believe I would have missed this tale.
This story is FANTASTIC! This novel will be published October 2. I recommend you start it ASAP! You will not be disappointed.
I received this novel from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley for a honest review.
I've loved the few books I've read by Diane Chamberlain, but The Dream Daughter is now my favorite. I connected to Carly right away. I loved the time warps. At first I was skeptical, but everything fell into place to make it believable. It was just a fun read with mystery and a bit of unexpectedness to keep it moving at a quick pace. I will be picking this for my next book club read for sure!
St. Martin's Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Dream Daughter. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.
Caroline Sears never thought that a chance encounter with a mysterious young man would change her life. There are things about Hunter's past that he keeps secret, even after he marries Caroline's sister.
Caroline knows heartache all too well, especially after losing her husband Joe in Vietnam. When doctors discover that the baby she is carrying has a fatal heart defect, will Hunter have a proposition for Carly that will open her eyes to the possibilities? Will divulging his secret to Carly convince the woman to take a leap of faith for her unborn child?
I did like the departure that author Diane Chamberlain has taken with this novel, especially considering the science fiction aspects. I appreciate the way that the author has told the story, unfolding it naturally and not falling into the cliche trap that would have ruined the novel. Although some of The Dream Daughter is a little far fetched, the characters are fully developed and the plot is well paced. The concept of time travel is explored and, although some of the scenarios and situations in which Carly finds herself are just not realistic, the novel is well written overall. Readers who are looking for the usual Diane Chamberlain novel may be disappointed with The Dream Daughter, but I feel that the author wrote a compelling and realistic story with science fiction undertones. I would recommend The Dream Daughter to other readers and I look forward to more from this established author in the future.
I loved everything about this book! The story had so many twists and turns. But it still flowed smoothly.
What an emotional ride! Time travel is hard to do and Ms. Chamberlain kept it easy to understand. This story about family, love, devotion will stay with me for a long time.
It is 1970 and Caroline Sears finds out devastating news that her unborn baby girl will not survive after she is born due to a heart defect. Caroline is overcome by sadness, but her brother-in-law Hunter tells her he may have a solution that would help her baby survive. Without giving away spoilers on how this story takes a turn, I will say that I loved everything about this book. It is complex, but interesting. The characters are likable and unforgettable. I love Caroline's strength and I asked myself all the way to the end of the book, what would I have done in her shoes? This book is about family, a mother's bond with her child, love, loss and so much more. This is such a wonderful book and unlike anything I have ever read. I will be recommending this book to all my friends.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This is my honest review of The Dream Daughter.
Fun and easy to suspend disbelief in time-travel in this engaging story of a young mother's quest to save her unborn child. Exceptionally well-written with plenty of twists, turns and suspense. Recommend!
All the stars! 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a beautiful, heartwarming, addictive and truly unique book I just read! Diane Chamberlain, you’re quite an awesome storyteller!
I’ve never been a fan of science fiction type novels, let alone time travel. Please don’t let this be the reason you don’t want to read this fabulous book! It’s so much more than that. It’s about a mother’s love and sacrifice and what lengths she will go to for her child. I’m SO thankful that I didn’t let that hinder my decision to join some of my fellow Traveling Sisters in reading this.
I was hooked from the first page. I loved all of the characters - primary and secondary - which added a lot of depth to the story. I want to keep my review short because I don’t want to give anything away. It never slowed down, I never felt bored and cannot imagine giving it anything less than all the stars. The ending was perfection. Simply wonderful.
Traveling Sisters read 💜
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Diane Chamberlain for my copy in exchange for my review.
I loved this book and it’s amazing characters and wonderful plot. Although I didn’t quite understand the time travel in. the book, it still really kept me wondering if time travel was real would we take a chance on it to save someone we love. Diane Chamberlain is one of my most favorite authors and she has done a wonderful job with The Dream Daughter.