Any Dream Will Do: A Novel

Any Dream Will Do is the latest novel by Debbie Macomber. Shay Benson is trying to turn her life around. She is clean (no drugs), working as a teller at a local bank, and taking accounting classes. Then Caden, her brother (and only family), shows up needing help. Caden states he needs $5,000 right away or he will be killed. Promises to get the money back to her within days if she will obtain it from the bank (not through legal means). Caden gets the money and disappears. Shay is sentenced to three years. Three years later, a bus drops Shay off in front of Seattle Calvary. She walks inside and feels a sense of peace. Pastor Drew Douglas has been having a crisis of faith since the loss of his wife three years prior. It has been a struggle managing his children and his flock. Drew is in the church when he hears a noise and encounters Shay Benson. Shay needs assistance (a new start, a place to live), and Drew takes her to Hope Center. Drew keeps track of Shay’s progress in the year long program and they develop a friendship. As time passes, Shay gets to know Drew’s children, finds a job, a place to live, and a church family. Life is good for Shay and romance is blossoming, but then her past comes back to haunt her. Shay’s dreams for her future are threatened. Shay will need to stay strong and hold onto her faith to get through this trial. Will Shay and Drew get their happily ever after? Any Dream Will Do is nicely written, has a good steady pace, and is set Seattle, Washington (I have always wanted to go there). This book is different from Debbie Macomber’s other novels. She always writes clean, wholesome books, but Any Dream Will Do has a Christian theme. The values of faith, trust, hope, second chances, redemption and love are prevalent throughout the story. Shay is given a second chance, but no one ever said it would be easy (life is full of struggles/obstacles to happiness). Life is fraught with hills and valleys (shadow and light). We get to see Shay and Drew go through good times and bad. I am rating Any Dream Will Do 4 out of 5 stars. The romance takes a backseat in this novel. It places out softly and slowly which I liked. Any Dream Will Do is an uplifting and inspiring novel. The story touches on the plight of the homeless, how people struggle with addiction, and dealing with prejudice (assuming that Shay is bad because she was in prison). Any Dream Will Do does have the expected ending, but it is touching. Any Dream Will Do is a good novel to enjoy on a Saturday afternoon while lying about in a hammock with a cool drink nearby.

This is a beautifully told story of mistakes, loss, redemption, healing, faith and love. It's a Debbie Macomber book so we know the writing and characters are top notch but the emotions this story evoke are definitely kicked up a notch. Shay Benson has made mistakes and paid the price in prison. On the day of her release with no were to go she stumbles into a little church. This one act will have a huge impact on her life. Pastor Drew Douglas has been going through the motions of living since the death of his wife. His two children need him to be better and he wants to be better but moving forward is hard. Then a woman enters his church who while dealing with her own life issues shows him the way to healing and moving forward. This story is impactful and simply not to be missed!

Shay, paid the price for making bad choices in men (Shooter) and trying to save her brother (Caden). After serving her time, she had no where to go and no one to help her. Slow moving story of finding hope and believing in dreams. Both Shay's and Drew's struggles were similar though different. Believing that something better awaits you when you've lost someone precious isn't easy. Enjoyed how Ms. Macomber displayed this and more in this clean, Christian romance. Voluntarily read ARC for honest review.