A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.A great read. I loved the story.

What a great read! A total page turner that I couldn’t put down once I started. A magnificent novel about family and the human spirit. As a mother it was very relatable and a tearjerker. I highly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley for this wonderful read.
This my first novel from this author and it surely not the the last.
Well written, lovable characters.

This isn't Ms. Chamberlain's typical writing formula so I was skeptical about reading this book. The story is about a woman named Carly that loses her husband in Vietnam and finds out that she's pregnant. The baby has a heart condition and can only be saved if Carly if Carly agrees to time travel in the future for treatment.
Although time traval books are often vastly inaccurate Ms. Chamberlain does a great job of telling the story without inaccuracies for each time period. I found myself falling in love with the characters and my heart was torn due to the difficult choices that had to be made. Very well done!

As usual, Diane Chamberlain has produced a very readable novel. I especially appreciate her ability to develop relatable, fascinating characters.

SECOND FAVORITE DIANE CHAMBERLAIN BOOK!!!

I think I've read more than two but suddenly I'm not so sure even though I'm staring at a shelf that holds 8 of Diane Chamberlain's books. I'm very slow when it comes to reading what I own but I'm very good at collecting books from the authors that I've come to love.

This one I requested as an E-ARC from Netgalley when it came across my screen one day and I'm so appreciative that I was granted an opportunity to read it. Now I apologize for being late with the review - let's just say certain adulting things got in the way of my hobbies.

The Dream Daughter was amazing! I did not expect that ending and I did not expect that twist in the middle - I couldn't imagine going through what our protagonist went through, at any point in her life. This book is inspiring me to go back and read those books that I own by Diane and haven't read yet.

As I am going through my NetGalley backlog, I came across this book that I actually started reading about a year and a half ago. It was one that I reached about halfway through the book and gave up on it. However, since I was given a free ARC, I decided to give it another go and finish reading it.

Most of the characters within The Dream Daughter were likable and easy to keep track of. Some were developed a bit more than others, while others simply remained secondary to the plot. I did, however, have some issues with some of Carly’s decisions.

Though almost 400 pages, the vocabulary and sentence structure of this book was simple and easy to follow. Also, even with its different timelines, due to time traveling, the author makes it clear which character perspective each chapter is focusing on and what time period each chapter takes place.

When I picked up this title again, I first couldn’t remember why I gave up on it. I reviewed the beginning and as the plot came back to me, I thoroughly read the rest. Part of the issue I have with the book is some of the decisions that some of the characters make.

Though the book ends in a more-or-less happy ending and everything basically turns out okay, this was a middle-of-the-road book for me. It’s not one to convince me to read other works by Ms. Chamberlain due to how frustrating character decisions and some plot points were. Perhaps those who can be more relaxed in character decisions and for those who would like to read about one mother’s journey would enjoy The Dream Daughter.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Having a child myself, I felt the heartbreak of Caroline when she is trying to get back to her daughter.

<b>RE-READ (audio/ebook) 17 Oct 2019 (★★★★)
READ/stopped ARC 9-28-2018</b>

Every time I scolded myself & sat down to post review, my brain scurried elsewhere. Me & review for THE DREAM DAUGHTER were like magnets w/ wrong-facing ends.

Ya see, based on the blurb, I knew going-in that THE DREAM DAUGHTER could hit some sensitive spots. And if that proved true, then the pangs would be especially painful/poignant in the hands of an author like Diane Chamberlain. Yet despite pre-read prep, certain parts of THE DREAM DAUGHTER scored direct hits.

Vietnam? I’m good. NICU? OK. Certain historical event which served as pivotal point in story? Blind-side sucker punch = TKO on initial read.

But I *did* finish THE DREAM DAUGHTER & even refreshed impressions via audio re-read. So my thoughts, in brief:

• Engrossing timeslip/time-travel storyline centered on simple premise: <i>what will a mother do (or not do) for the sake of her child?</i> In THE DREAM DAUGHTER, Caroline Sears proves that she’ll grasp any option, even the seemingly impossible.

• When reading, firmly set aside theoretical physics & Einstein-Rosen bridges & simply enjoy the storytelling. I learned early (namely, after watching the likes of <i>Dr Who, Quantum Leap, The Terminator</i> and <i>Back to the Future</i>) that brain-lock occurs whenever I think about time travel on intellectual level.

• I guessed certain things in advance, but that d/n diminish fun in discovering how they played out.

• YMMV, but just in case, have tissue box on stand-by.

• As reward for taking emotional journey w/ Caroline Sears, heart-warming & feel-good ending.

Despite its poignancy & sometimes painful moments, THE DREAM DAUGHTER is, above all, a story about hope—for one’s child, as well as for the future. Highly recommend (w/ a few caveats, depending on personal experiences).

NB: Above is abbreviated review (as posted on Amazon; pls see link #2). Pls see GR review (link #1) for full content.

~ NG feedback/review 23 Feb 2020 ~

I had a few false starts before I got through this one. It gets much better about a third of the way in. Before that it was just so much weirder than what I was expecting that I couldn't get into it. Turned out to be a pretty good book with a heartwarming ending.

Wow wow wow. Not my usual type of book because of certain elements but the way that the author wrote about them made them more relatable to me. My first book by this author but it will not be the last. This is a book that I will recommend to everyone.

I tried reading this when it came out but never could get past the first few chapters. Every time I went to the library the cover kept pulling me towards it saying open me and read. Finally the other day I succumbed to the call and brought it home. I fell instantly in love with Carly's story and hated to stop to be an adult and take care of my family.

Personally, I don't believe in the time travel theory and that there are portals all around us but as I was reading The Dream Daughter I found myself thinking what if you could? Would you be brave enough to do as Carly did to save your child?

I highly recommend The Dream Daughter.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, St. Martin's Press, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

This book is captivating! Caroline lives in 1970 and is pregnant with a child who has a heart defect. The only way for her child to survive is to travel in time to a period when in-utero surgery is possible. This is where her brother-in-law, Hunter, steps in to help her. This book is about the determination and unwavering love of a mother who will go to great lengths to save her child. I could not put this book down!

When I began reading this book I was unsure as to whether or not I would like it because of the time travel aspect of it. I stuck with it and am so happy I did as I completely enjoyed every part of it and couldn't out it down! Diane Chamberlain is a fantastic storyteller. The characters in this book were wonderful. You could feel the emotional connection to them. Carly is a very likeable character who takes huge risks for her family. I look forward to reading more Diane Chamberlain books!

This is my second Diane Chamberlain novel and will not be my last. This was compulsively readable, and the way she incorporates just enough science to bring us into the time travel world without bogging it down in details or taking it to the realm of scifi was perfect.

A free ebook from NetGalley, the review is my own.

Caroline Sears has lost the love of her life and now faces news that her unborn baby has a heart defect. in 1970 there is nothing she can do, until her brother-in-law, Hunter, comes to her with a plan. A mysterious physicist that appeared suddenly came into the Sears family a few years earlier. Hunter gives Caroline hope. Something can be done about her baby's heart. Caroline just needs to take a leap of faith and decide if her unborn child's life is worth facing the unknown.

A slow story, but one that hooks you in and doesn't let you go. The emotions that are uncovered and forced on you as a reader had me running to my family members to embrace them. Highly recommend for those that love family dramas and relationship driven stories. This would be difficult to read for those that have lost loved ones to tragedy or children.

5/5 stars for this one, without a doubt!

This book was so overwhelmingly emotional and textured. I actually cried at the end of it. Wow! I didn’t think I would feel so spent after reading a book, but the depth of writing here was incredible.

The story starts out with conflict. Carly Sears is living through an emotional time. She is pregnant with her first daughter while her husband is in Vietnam, and unfortunately he dies over there. She is living with her sister and brother-in-law, Hunter, and finds out some earth-shattering news that may help the outcome of her baby’s heart condition.

Jumping between Hunter and Carly’s lives, and the years 1970 and 2001 (among others), their story unravels to reveal boldness, faith, heartache, desire and intrigue. It was a fast read, and a very complex story line, but Diane made it very easy to follow. I was asking many questions throughout. And a heads-up, you will most likely laugh, cry and catch yourself sighing a lot through this book. There were many times I was like, “This book could go any direction!”

The amount of love and sadness that this book conveyed was a lot, but it was certainly worth the trip! The lengths we go to save those we love has never been tested like this!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I appreciate the opportunity to receive an advanced reader copy to do so. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This book was a slow build for me. It took me about half of the book to get into the story but once I did I couldn’t put it down. Diane Chamberlain has so many great books and has a way with words that tears your heart to shreds and then somehow slowly pieces them back together. Definitely an emotional and well-rounded book.

I'm sorry that I have not been able to read and review this book. I do plan to do so. I was sent a physical galley of the book which I plan to read before the year is out. I will come back to revise my review at that time. Thank you for the opportunity!

I love Diane Chamberlain's books...but I wasn't so sure about this one that revolves around time travel. I was wrong to be skeptical! This is a book true to Chamberlain's "grab you by the heart and squeeze" style. This is a fast paced read fueled by wanting everything to work out for the characters, but not sure how it's possible. Enjoy this one! Thanks NetGalley and publishers for providing an advanced copy for review.