Monday, February 4, 2019

Any Dream Will Do

GIVEAWAY

RANDOM RETRO READ!
MACOMBER, DEBBIE
ANY DREAM WILL DO

Shay Benson adored her younger brother, Caden, and that got her into trouble. When he owed money, Shay realized she would do anything to help him avoid the men who were threatening  him, and she crossed lines she never should have crossed. 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 adored his wife. But when he lost her, it was all he could do to focus on his two beautiful kids, and his flock came in a distant third. 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 -- that, over time, turns into something deeper, something soulful, spiritual, and possibly romantic. Even Drew's two children are taken with this woman who has brought light back into their lives. Perhaps most important, Shay learns to trust again as she, in turn, proves herself trustworthy to her adopted community.

But Caden's return to town and a disastrous secret threaten to undo the life Shay has tried so hard to rebuild. It will take the utmost courage and faith if she and Drew hope to find healing and open their hearts to a brighter future.

My Review:

published in 2017
My thanks to my public library for providing me with the audio version of this retro read!

I'm just getting into Debbie Macomber's work and I've been enjoying her lighthearted romantic comedies -- especially the Christmas ones -- so Any Dream Will Do was quite the surprise. It has more serious undertones and a strong faith component that totally rocked my world. I was completely sucked in right from the very angsty prologue and it was excruciating to have to endure the measured pace of the narrators when I kept wanting to read faster and leap ahead and find out what happens next....Aaaaggggh, what sweet torture.And excellent performances by Mark Deakins and Laurel Rankin.

And what a powerful redemption story! So many layers packed with grace and forgiveness and hope. Also the most unusual romance that I've ever read in that it develops over the course of months. Loved the way Drew and Shay are drawn together (definitely divine intervention there!) and how they build a respectful acquaintance into friendship and finally love. These isn't a hasty road to romance kind of read. Macomber places way too many speed bumps in their way to slow things down and make that struggle to a HEA the touching triumph it became. Make sure you have copious amounts of tissues on hand -- you'll need a truckload. What a stunner of a read!

Side note: There are a few instances of coarse language.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Any Dream Will Do, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 9 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

43 comments:

  1. I love Debbie's Books 📚
    Thanks for sharing them with us
    😍❤😍 and Thanks for the chance
    😃💖😍 iamabho AT gmail DOT com 😍

    ReplyDelete
  2. This sounds like an amazing story, one I'd surely love to read! Thank you for the chance!

    freda.mans[a]tgmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's totally different from anything else I've read by her. Good luck, Freda!

      Delete
  3. I have enjoyed her work for years - some are slightly more edgy but still overall very good reading - and most with a message. My library tends to carry quite a few of her books, so that was my introduction to her. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes -- that's where I've been getting her books -- library audio books. She's very popular and it seems like they have all her books in audio format so I'm working my way through them now. I've really enjoyed her Rose Harbor Inn series too. Good luck, CC!

      Delete
  4. Her books are like comfort food.
    turtle 6422 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a great way to describe them! Good luck, Jana!

      Delete
  5. I always Debbie Macomber. This does sound a bit different than the previous ones I've read. Enjoyed the review! I hope to read it soon.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's really different but really good too. Good luck, rubynreba.

      Delete
  6. I always love getting lost in a Debbie Macomber book. kyleswatersAThotmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She knows how to carry a reader away. Good luck, Lwat!

      Delete
  7. Love your review and love her books. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've been wanting to try a Debbie Macomber book for quite some time. This sounds like a perfect one to start!

    dmandres5 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep -- a stunner to start with. Good luck, Melissa.

      Delete
  9. My sis-in-law likes Debbie's books, I've never read them since I wasn't sure the content, though I figured they were considered "clean". I stick pretty close to Christian fiction, but this one sounds quite good. Maybe Any Dream Will Do could be my gentle introduction to her work :-)

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The ones I have read -- or listened to -- have been clean -- just sometimes some language. They are mainstream published though. Like you, I tend to stick to Christian Fiction aside from a few cozies but thanks to my discovery of all things audible, I've listened to a few of Debbie's books now. Good luck, Trixi!

      Delete
    2. If you like cozies, you might enjoy a book I just go finished reading called "The Coffee Club Mysteries" written by six Christian authors: Darlene Franklin, Cynthia Hickey, Elizabeth Ludwig, Dana Mentink, Candice Prentice, and Janice Thompson. It's about six ladies who formed a book club at The Coffee Perk (Morgan owns it) and find themselves solving murders that the bumbling Sherriff can't. They are novella length, but to me, they flowed together seamlessly. And yes, you'll fall in love with the canine sidekicks! Dana Mentink has an elderly dashound mix named Ju Ju, which I suspect is modeled after her own pooch Junie. Anyway...I definitely recommend it!! Laugh-out-loud moments and a bevy of female amateur sleuths, now that's a recipe for murderous fun....lol!

      Delete
    3. Oooohhhhh -- thanks for that recommendation! I've seen that title on instagram posts and was wondering about it. Must check and see if it's in paperback...ohhh yes, published by Barbour. How cool is that?

      Delete
    4. Yes, it's put out by Barbour and you can order a paperback :-)

      I posted my review on Goodreads so check it out if you want!

      Delete
    5. Awesomesauce -- you make it sound like it's a not-to-be-missed. Rare to get a Christian Fiction cozy so I'm excited.

      Delete
  10. I have not read one of her books yet. But my mom loved them. I would love to try one of her books.
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here's hoping you get a chance to soon, Lori. Good luck!

      Delete
  11. I would love to read Debbie’s book. Thank you for sharing!
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love Debbie’s books, but haven’t read one for quite awhile. Thank you for the chance.
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Who could resist Debbie M? ksucindy(at)excite(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This one is pretty irresistible! Good luck, Cindy!

      Delete
  14. I haven't had the opportunity to read many of Debbie Macomber's books, but what I have read I have loved.

    ANY DREAM WILL DO sounds like a fabulous book and I bet I would enjoy it just as much as you did. Love this emotional romantic kind of stories.

    Thank you for your review and for the opportunity to win a copy of this fabulous sounding book.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is definitely one of those emotional romantic kinds of stories so right up your alley, Kay. Good luck!

      Delete
  15. I'd love to win a copy of Debbie Macomber's book. I haven't read one of hers for a long time, and this one sounds good. Thanks for the chance to win, Kav!
    whthomas13 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yes, have recently enjoyed some of her books. teshawATsbcglobalDOTnet

    ReplyDelete
  17. My sister in law loves Debbie Macomber!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Debbie's books are always stirring. I haven't read this one though. duhpaynes at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm just becoming acquainted with her work but this is definitely my favourite so far. Good luck, Anne.

      Delete
  19. Between you switching to Saturdays and my being out of sync in general, I keep forgetting to check into your reviews. Then suddenly it's Friday already.

    I've read three of Macomber's older books and one of her newer releases. There wasn't a faith thread in any of them. Lol. Although, the recent release that I read was clean and with a serious subject matter. I haven't picked up one of her books since, so I'm so happy to see your mention of a faith thread in Any Dream Will Do. Not that I'm purposefully avoiding them.
    tlhcoupon(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. lol -- it's been a hard adjustment for me too. Yes, this one was a surprise for me because of the faith thread but, of course, I loved it. Good luck, Terrill!

      Delete