Debbie Macomber is a wonderful writer. Her stories, which are widely popular, always seem to make readers smile. So I am excited to jump on the Macomber train (I know, I am so behind). In the latest standalone, Any Dream Will Do, readers meet two very opposite individuals who find love despite things standing in their way. One is an ex con, the other is a priest- eeeepp!!! Sounds scandalous, yea? It's not. It's actually a very sweet and heartwarming read that touched me deeply. Macomber has a magical ability in telling these stories and I can now understand why readers crave her work. 

Fans of the author and those who love stories that will melt your heart need to read the latest from Debbie Macomber. It's a delightful and wonderful story and I would certainly recommend it.

A new style of writing with serious subject manner is given to us by the author.
Life hands us many curves that we don’t anticipate.  New dreams can occur when lives are reshaped by circumstances.  Will those dreams be fulfilled?

We meet a widowed Pastor, his children and a lady, who after time in prison form a friendship.   This book shows us how rehabilitation, second chances and new life changes can affect lives.  It also touches on how unfortunately church congregations will or will not accept new people into their fellowship.  

I loved this new style and story theme.  I highly recommend this book to all readers who love Debbie Macomber books.  I couldn’t put it down.  It has a great story line and strong characters.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine.

3.5 stars
Shay will do anything to protect her brother, including embezzling money from the bank where she works, which lands her in jail. When she's released, she's dropped off in front of a church. She thinks she's alone in the church, only to find out that the Pastor is there. Drew is still mourning the loss of his wife and a bit at lost ends. He sets out to help Shay.
Any Dream Will Do is a story of loss, love, and faith. A bit predictable, but an enjoyable read.

Loved this faith based book about second chances..  an enjoyable read.  A book of love and faith. Good for almost any audience

HEARTWARMING!!

Shay Benson only wanted to take help her younger brother Caden stay out of trouble. It cost her three years of her life. When she gets a second chance, she's not really sure where to start. Pastor Drew Douglas lost his beloved wife to cancer and has been just going through the motions trying to take care of his children and his church family. They meet as they are both at desperately low points in their lives. Shay is introduced to an opportunity at the Hope Center where she learns what it means to have people who love her and care about her for the first time in her life. Shay is given a second chance at a fulfilling life. She has friends that are as close as family. She displays forgiveness over bitterness. She chooses redemption over retaliation. She teaches everyone - particularly Drew and his family - any dream will do to look forward to! I was provided an ARC by NetGalley and Random House. The opinions expressed here are completely my own.

This book was a little gem. I very much enjoyed it, mostly with Shay's character development. How she went from something of an enabling sister to a strong woman of faith who beat the odds was great. Her relationship with Drew was well drawn, and I greatly enjoyed that she connected with his children right away as well. 

Shay, an ex-con, was a great protagonist. She shows that criminals can be rehabilitated, especially if they're given the tools and education to stand on their own feet, and that there are many reasons that people commit crimes. Drew is a pastor, and is also an interesting protagonist. A widower and a single father, he has to struggle to keep his own head afloat as well as that of his congregation. Of course, things are complicated when he starts a deep friendship with Shay. I loved his commitment to his faith and principles, and his obvious love for his children.

All in all, it was a quick read with a great message.

Trying to rise above and out of a horrible past or course Shay has a chip on her shoulder. She cannot trust anyone, so why should be trusted. Through the love of God happily every after is possible.

I loved this book, so grateful I got to read an ARC of it ! Read it in one day. No one tells a story the way Debbie does ! I loved the vast differences in the characters, their lives and their stories. and how they both changed and fell in love ! the supporting characters were just as wonderful !  I was actually sad when I finished the book because I wanted it to continue.  This was a wonderful book ! and you will love it !

Debbie does it again! Another bestseller! This is a stand alone novel about second chances. This is nothing like any novel Debbie has written and I loved it! I did not put this book down till I was done reading! Shay does the unthinkable for her brother, and ends up spending three long years in prison, when she gets out she finds second chances and love! This book will make you laugh and cry! I highly recommend this book, you will love it.

This book was such a refreshing read. I would like to hear more about Richard and Chuck. I hope she writes a second book in this series. I don't think I would have been as nice as Shay was with some of issues she had to deal with in the book. This is an awesome read.

Shay loved her brother and would do anything for him. With her parents both gone he still feels responsible for him even as adults. When he gets himself into trouble and asks her to please steal from the bank she works for and he will make amends, she gives in. She ends up in prison and never hears from him again. The day she is released the bus drops her off in front of a church. She meets the Pastor and he ends up getting help for her. Theu end up meeting up again and end up forming a friendship that turns into more. But the members of the church are skeptical because of her past and that past catches up to her.

It had me hooked from the very beginning.   I am not one to read all night,  but I came close last night and finally put it down around 4 this morning,  slept a few hours and then finished it!   Very unusual for me.
.  Just an awesome read.   I think there is something in this story that everyone can relate to.  I loved the characters.....so real,  and believable!    This will be a another Hallmark Movie without a doubt for Debbie Macomber,  and I will definitely be watching for it.   Excellent!!!!  A book everyone should read,   and yes,  any dream will do.  Awesome title for this amazing book!.

I liked the idea of the story. Unfortunately i waas a struggle foe me to read and enjoy.

This was such a heartwarming story. A woman that loved her brother and did things for him she knew was wrong. She ended.up in prison. When she was released she didnt know what she was  going to do to survive the night let alone the rest.of her life. This was a story of a young lady redeeming her life and finding love. It was a fantastic read.

Debbie Macomber is easily one of my favorite authors because she always writes these easy to read books that you find yourself able to binge through without even realizing it. Her latest is no exception as I got through it in less than two hours and was left feeling grateful for the experience.

It is a story about family, hope, love, second chances and being careful about who you judge. As always, she has created some fantastic characters you can really bond to and scene work that pulls you along their story.

There were times I wanted to shake her main character, Shay, for being so gullible and allowing herself to get pulled into bad situations that could ruin her life but by the end Macomber has this way of reminding me I’ve made some of my own decisions that frustrated those who love so who am I to judge?

Another of her characters who is a preacher came off as a real sweetheart and one of the things I adored about this book is that even those who don’t believe in God won’t be turned away because she doesn’t use this as a way to beat others over the head with religion. Instead you are treated to some much needed messages on the behavior and needs of mankind that go beyond just what is in a bible or what you’d find in church.

I hope people will give this a chance and allow their hearts to be changed as we all need a little reminder from time to time that dreams are not unattainable.

I always enjoy reading a book where the author can draw the reader so far into the story that they feel they are a bystander watching it all unfold. In this instance I felt I was not only there but could feel ever emotion felt by the two main characters. Despair, forsaken, hope and budding love being a few of the many tugs one felt while reading this uplifting story. A convicted felon and a widowed pastor, with two small children, both trying to do what is best. A truly heart warming and string tugging love story that will make you feel better.

I have given this book a five star rating and would recommend it to anyone else looking for a book that will leave them feeling better.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

Debbie Macomber has always been one of my favorite authors, but I have to admit this book was not what I was expecting. While I really did enjoy it, parts of the book were very hard. I think we come to expect happy ever after and sometimes any sign of negativity, or angst is hard to read. I found myself routing for the main characters, and hoping that good would win out. There were moments of worry, and moments of happiness and tears reading this book. I enjoyed it and sorry to see it end so soon, I was hoping for an epilog!

Great romance was surprised that I read it in one day

Beautiful story of redemption and second chances. A very religious theme but since this is what saved our lost heroine I quite enjoyed all the aspects of it. The preacher and his children were just as lost as our ex-con and when they all come together the beauty of it was stunning. Debbie Macomber knows how to make a reader feel.

If I could give this 6 stars, I would.  This is a story of love, hope, faith and redemption.

When kind-hearted Shay makes a bad decision to help her desperate brother, she ends up serving three years in prison.  After being released from prison, she has little money, no job and nowhere to go.  Her bus drops her off in front of a church where she goes in mainly to get out of the cold.  Little did she know at that time that her life would be forever changed.  She meets Pastor Drew Douglas, who was dealing with the death of his wife three years earlier, and with raising his two children alone.  Although their relationship started as a friendship, Drew offers Shay the hope she needs to survive... in the form of Hope Center.

As Shay completes her commitment with Hope Center, her bond with Drew and his children deepens and the joy and love both Drew and Shay had not experienced for a long time grows stronger.  Shay begins to show her true self when she befriends two homeless men with steaming cups of coffee each morning and kind words.  It doesn't take long before more people begin to put her past where it belonged... in the past.  But when that past flares up in the form of her old boyfriend, things get heated.  And later, a matter of trust threatens to pull Shay and Drew apart.

Once again, Debbie Macomber created a heartwarming story with lovable characters and the ability to bring me to tears.