I usually enjoy anything written by Debbie Macomber. This one, however, didn't do it for me. The characters were entirely unrealistic. Shay, who had been involved with a gang and in a relationship with a drug user/dealer, was a goody-two-shoes. The minister was stereotypical.the book was drawn out and pretty boring. I will, however, continue reading everything from this author.

I love Debbie Macomber and really hate giving my honest thoughts on this book.  I loved the idea of the book.  Even thinking back over it it's a lovely story.  It's just missing what I love so much about Macombers other books.  I never felt connected to the characters.  I missed the picturesque settings that I normally find when falling into Cedar Cove or other stories.
I found I had a really hard time getting into this book.  I normally finish a Macomber book in a day or two and this took me over a week.  I can't really put my finger on why.

Uplifting, Powerful, and Full of Love!

Any Dream Will Do by Debbie Macomber is a beautiful story about second chances, love, trust, faith, and redemption! Debbie Macomber has a wonderful way of bringing all her characters to life - simply an incredible story from beginning to end. 

Shay Benson loved her brother Caden, and all she wanted to do was help him stay out of trouble. Unfortunately, that act of kindness cost her three years of her life behind bars. Now she is determined to start over, she finds herself searching for a place to stay and walks into a church to escape the cold. Pastor Drew Douglas lost his wife to cancer and has been struggling ever since to take care of his two children and his church. Now he is thinking about a fresh start and as he walks through his church he finds Shay sitting in a pew.

Shay and Drew form a friendship. Drew wants to help Shay get back on her feet and introduces her to the Hope Center. While staying at the Hope Center she learns what it's like to have people care about her for the first time in her life. Shay has been given a second chance at life and can finally learn to trust again. Shay and Drew's friendship starts growing into something deeper. Could romance be in the air? Drew's children absolutely love Shay and can see the life coming back into his eyes again. But Shay's brother returns back to town. Will he undo the life she has tried so hard to rebuild? It will take extreme courage and faith if she and Drew want to heal and open their hearts to a beautiful future. After all, Any dream will do! Highly Recommended!

*I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC.

Any Dream Will Do by Debbie Macomber is a wonderful heartwarming story about second chances and finding love.  Any Dream Will Do begins with Shay Benson, our heroine, making a grave mistake in helping her brother; after serving three years in prison for embezzlement, which during that time, she never heard from her brother again. When Shay is released from prison, she has no money, and has no one to help her; she gets on a bus to nowhere, and ends up in a local church in a small town and desperately prays for some guidance.  

Drew Douglas, is the pastor of his church, and when he hears a noise, he realizes that someone has entered the church.  Drew himself was deep in prayer, trying to find a way to get past his depression, since the loss of his wife 4 years before.  Drew has two children, and he knows he needs to find a way to step out of his mourning for them, as well as he is losing members of  his church.  When Drew goes to find out who entered, he meets Shay, and he will try to bring her to one of the town’s clinics that help those in need. Shay openly explains that she just got out of prison, but Drew is determined to help the young lady.  Shay at first is not too sure she will qualify to be in this program, but she will persevere and slowly change her perspective at having a chance for a new life.  She meets many people who will become her friends along the way, which also includes Drew, who will become her friend, as will his two children.  

Drew finds himself having a new purpose, and begins to return to the living, winning back his parishioners, his friends, and spending quality time with his daughter and son.  Drew also finds himself enjoying spending time with Shay, and how she is with his children.  Both know theirs is just a friendship, which has some townspeople not happy, as Shay’s past has them determined to force Drew not to become romantically involved.  Those who know Shay, have seen all the good she does helping others, with volunteer work, and the homeless, not to mention how Drew’s children have grown to love her.  Shay’s brother and her ex will come back to haunt her, causing more problems, but she is now strong enough to fight them

Even though this was an unlikely pair, their growing romance was so well written and beautiful to see.  I loved how Shay was so loving to the children, and to Drew, even though she felt she was not worthy of him. I loved how they both got second chances in life to rise above the trauma of their past; as each needed to learn to trust their hearts, and have faith and hope again.

Debbie Macomber gives us wonderful story about love, second chances, friendship, issues, and forgiveness.   This was a sweet and inspiring story, with a great couple, wonderful children and secondary characters.  I strongly suggest you read Any Dream Will Do.

What happens when the preacher falls in love with the Felon.
Shay only wanted to help her brother which caused her to go to jail. Now she is released the only place she can go is in a church. This will start a friendship between her and Drew (Pastor Drew). 
This story takes you outside of the box of romance. It is written about forgiveness people who are judgmental. It was refreshing and not so light.


** I received this book from Netgalley in exchange  for an honest review

My dream is that Debbie Macomber continues writing books for years to come.  Starting to read a book by Ms. Macomber is like going on a vacation.  You are excited to start the trip.  You have a great time while on the trip and sad when it is over.  This book was no exception. 

Any Dream Will Do shares that you must always have dreams and to not give up on them. 

Drew lost the love of his life and the mother of his children.  He never thought he could love again.  Would he risk all for this second chance of love?

Shay had risked before and lost.  Could she take the chance of opening her heart? 

I will wait as patient as I can for the next book by Debbie Macomber.  Enjoyed the story.

4.5 stars

Any Dream Will Do by Debbie Macomber is an uplifting novel of redemption, second chances and love. This substantive story also includes an element of faith that is not just spiritual since a major part of the storyline centers around the belief that people can and will prevail as they attempt to turn their lives around after making disastrous life choices.

Drew Douglas is the pastor of a Seattle Church but after the death of his beloved wife Katie three years earlier, he is still struggling with lingering grief and a loss of faith. His surprise meeting with Shay Benson  changes his life, but initially, not in a romantic sense.  In helping her, he finds his way back to the friends and mentors he gradually allowed to slip out of his life after Katie’s death. As he becomes more engaged in life, Drew finally recognizes that he is battling more than just grief and a crisis of faith. Once he begins to emerge from the darkness that has shrouded him, Drew finds a renewed purpose and joy in his ministry.  He occasionally sees Shay during this year of recovery and once both of their lives are back on track, the two form a surprising friendship that gradually deepens into love.

A dysfunctional and abusive childhood set Shay on a self-destructive path at a young age. Her poor choices also affected her brother Caden after she introduces him to her drug dealing and addicted boyfriend. On the brink of leaving er past behind, Shay’s loyalty to Caden and her guilt over involving him in her ill-fated choices results in a terrible decision that culminates with severe consequences for her. Three years later, Shay is once again presented with an opportunity to make a better life for herself, but can she bring herself to believe she is worthy of this second chance?

The friendship between Shay and Drew is quite sweet but there are quite a few obstacles they both must overcome before exploring the unexpected romance that springs up between them.  Shay is constantly striving to quiet the little voice in her head that tries to convince her she does not deserve a better life.  She is incredibly kindhearted and never hesitates to welcome those less fortunate into her life and her heart. While she is at first skeptical of letting God into her life, a newfound faith finally becomes an integral part of Shay’s life.

Drew is initially somewhat hesitant to bring Shay into both his and his children’s lives but he cannot deny he is drawn to her. Several people in his congregation question his judgment and he draws upon Scripture to gently, yet pointedly, make his case for welcoming her into their fold. A few issues crop up along the way that seem to indicate he might have made a precipitous decision to trust Shay but Drew’s faith in her does not waver. However, when a situation spirals out of control, will Drew be forced to decide between his church and Shay?

Any Dream Will Do is a truly inspiring novel that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to turn their lives around.  The romance between Shay and Drew is quite touching, but their relationship is secondary to the growth of the characters.  Shay’s journey is compelling and her emotions, regrets and doubts are realistically depicted. Drew’s struggle to regain his lost faith and overcome the loss of his wife are portrayed with stark honesty. The storyline also touches on social problems such as homelessness and addiction in a forthright and sensitive manner. This newest release by Debbie Macomber is a captivating story of hope, love and faith that will linger in readers’ hearts and minds long after the last page is turned.

Debbie Macomber at her best. You can't help but feel for Shay as she chooses the wrong path, but does it out of love for her brother.  After serving her time for her mistakes, she's set on having a better life and she is able to find that, but can she keep it?  Ms. Macomber keeps us guessing until the end, but never lets us doubt the intrinsic goodness of Shay, just if she will get her happy ending.  A beautiful read from a master storyteller.

There is nothing like a Debbie Macomber book to warm your heart! 

Any Dream Will Do centers around two main characters- Shay, a women just released from prison and Drew, a pastor, widower and single father. Both Shay and Drew are looking for the answer to their prayers of a happier and more fulfilling life. Both characters are lovable, charming and easy to root for through the entire story. 

A very sweet story. 

Note to all: very strong religious themes through the book although definitely centers more on morality and being open minded rather than too preachy.

This was a wonderful story about second chances , starting over and finding love. Debbie Macomber had described each character so well I felt like I actually knew them.  This is a great read to shows that humans  make bad choices in their life, but that doesn't make them a bad person.

I can't say enough about how  much I enjoyed this book.  I didn't want to put the book down.  Debbie Macomber as usual put the reader in each scene and gave you a vested interest in Shay and the other characters.  I loved that Shay was given a second chance and then became a valuable member of the community.  This book proved that second chances really work and that working hard really does pay off.  This is a must read for anyone that enjoys Debbie Macomber.  My only criticism is that book cover, I would have had a different cover as it didn't' really match the title.

Debbie Macomber’s Any Dream Will Do is a solid, if slow moving, novel about second chances and redemption.  As a big fan of Debbie Macomber’s books, I had high expectations for this book which, unfortunately, were not met. I liked the idea that anyone can find redemption and that second chances exist, but the pacing of the book was so slow that I found it difficult to become then remain engaged. While this book is in line with many of Ms Macomber’s character driven novels, it is more serious and dark. Many of Ms Macomber’s previous books have passing references to characters attending church. In this book’s case, the church plays a major role as one of the two main characters is a pastor. I find the use of a pastor as a main character intriguing and refreshing. That said, readers should be advised that this book could easily be labeled as Christian fiction. This is not a negative, I just don’t believe that all readers would enjoy that. 

I recommend this book for fans of Debbie Macomber, Christian fiction and “message” books. Two and a half stars.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review and the opinions stated are solely my own.

Imagine doing a favor for family and it end up landing you in prison... imagine after three years there, you emerge with nothing but a sack of things and no where to go... all you want truly is a second chance to be better, to prove you are not a thief... and that you are worth something.

If any of this sounds at all interesting, this book will take you on that journey and show that a second chance might be all you need.

Pretty standard Macomber fare, but a bit better than some of her others. Macombers writing can be like a road you've traveled many times, but sometimes there is a surprise or two along the way. A perfect rainy Sunday read.

A story about a young woman, newly released from prison, and the people who help her to transition to a more meaningful life. A story of hope, charity, and most especially forgiveness.
  A very thought-provoking tale, this book really made me think about what it’s like to need a second chance.  How hard it must be to escape a troubled past, and even dissociate from family and friends for one’s own good. I learned about the needs of the homeless, as well as the various groups that work to help those in need.  
While I enjoyed the story, it took me a little while to get into. It read more like a documentary or a text book.  I just couldn’t relate to the characters. They just didn’t grab me a much as I usually experience in a Debbie Macomber book. I never got a true emotion al connection.

3.5 Stars

This is nice, uplifting story with a message of hope. 

Shay has lived a hard life and after being released from prison for embezzlement, which she only did in effort to help her brother, she has no hope, no dreams and no place to go. She stumbles into the church of Pastor Drew Douglas who is struggling after losing his wife four years prior to cancer and still having to raise two young children. Drew helps Shay find her way to hope and a future. Shay also unknowingly does the same for Drew. After Shay lands on her feet Drew and Shay find an undeniable attraction between the two of them, however the relationship of the pastor and ex-con is met with some resistance. Drew and Shay together must show everyone that your past does not define you. 

I always enjoy Debbie Macomber’s books and this was no different. It was an enjoyable, quick read with uplifting messages sprinkled throughout.

Wow! What an interesting novel. 

We get to see first hand how God works in mysterious ways. Poor Shay, she had no idea where to go, how to start over. She entered a church seeking warmth on a cold night and finds that there really are good people in this cruel world, and Pastor Drew Douglas is one of them.

It is beautiful to see God work in Shay's life as He transforms her. 

This story gave me goosebumps more than once.

A beautiful story! 

You really need to pick up a copy of this book when it becomes available, August 8th. You will be so glad you did.

A heart-warming, uplifting tale, an ideal accompaniment to a glass of egg-nog and a plateful of holiday cookies.

Any Dream Will Do by Debbie Macomber is as close to a realistic story as possible. Everything felt real. It was like reading a person's journey from the rough life to a good one. A young woman has had trust issues due to the men in her life. With no One But a brother as family and as a friend, Shay had to learn a lot of lessons. Including, not trusting her baby brother. He relied on her and she made a bad choice because she thought it was a life or death situation. Her brother used her. Broke his promise and left Shay to deal with the consequences. Shay went to prison, lost her bank job, and is dealing with a lot of emotions. Anger, fear, and survival mode. After being released she finds no where to go. Stepping into a church, Shay's life turns around....she meets Paster Drew. 

Pastor Drew is another interesting character. He and his very young kids lost a loved one. A wife and mother. Drew was hopeless and lost until he meets Shay. He sees hope for her. Even though she can't. She has a tough attitude but inside she's good. Drew calls a friend and help Shay into a program for women like her. Because he helped her, Shay forms an attachment of trust, liking, and hope towards him. Drew can't help but feel good knowing he helped her. Something about Shay also gives him hope for the future. Then there's his kids. Both meet Shay. Shay loves them as much as they love her. 

Debbie Macomber has written an inspiring tale here. I couldn't stop reading it. The whole story made me cry, smile, and fall in love. Lost souls finding their ways after a tragedy. A little faith, hope, and love go a long way in this novel. Those who have been through a tough time can easily relate to both Shay and Drew's issues. Struggles can make or break us at times. But it's about continuing even when we have nothing else to lose. Overall, I recommend this contemporary to all. Any Dream Will Do is a must read.

Another heartwarming book from Debbie Macomber. This is a standalone book but I would love to see the characters return in other books to "check in" on their lives.