When Carly Sears, a young woman widowed by the Vietnam War, receives the news that her unborn baby girl has a heart defect, she is devastated. It is 1970, and she is told that nothing can be done to help her child. But her brother-in-law, a physicist with a mysterious past, tells her that perhaps there is a way to save her baby. What he suggests is something that will shatter every preconceived notion that Carly has. Something that will require a kind of strength and courage she never knew existed. Something that will mean an unimaginable leap of faith on Carly’s part.

    And all for the love of her unborn child.

    The Dream Daughter is a rich, genre-spanning, breathtaking novel about one mother’s quest to save her child, unite her family, and believe in the unbelievable. Diane Chamberlain pushes the boundaries of faith and science to deliver a novel that you will never forget.

 

My Thoughts: While I have not read many books involving time travel, Diane Chamberlain’s books always capture me, so The Dream Daughter was definitely one for me.

Having lived in the 1970s, during and after the Vietnam War, I could relate to Carly and her issues, especially her concern about her brother-in-law Hunter’s idea to “send her” to 2001.

In 2001, the surgery for her child was a success, but several setbacks afterwards made it impossible for Carly to travel back to 1970 with her daughter. So she went alone.

From this point on, everything fell apart and turned out completely wrong for Carly. Searching for her daughter and trying to make up for the errors that followed kept me intrigued until the very end.

Some strange and unexpected events transpired, and for those who find the idea of time travel impossible to wrap their heads around, everything might seem unlikely. How did the September 11, 2001 date complicate events for Carly and her daughter? Would she find a way to fill in the years that eluded her?

By this point, I was held captive by each page, wondering how or if Carly and her dream daughter would connect again. An intense story that will keep me pondering the events. 5 stars.***My e-ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley.

What would you do to save the life of your unborn child? This question is the central issue in Diane Chamberlain's book, The Dream Daughter.
Carly Sears is a young woman, pregnant with her first child. Sadly, her soldier husband had just been killed in Vietnam. Carly had not even had time to inform him that he would soon be a father.
While dealing with this tragic loss, Carly learns that her unborn child has a heart defect and cannot survive. No hope at all exists is what is offered by the medical field. She has already lost her husband, now the child, her only link to him, will be lost too.
What can she do? How far is she willing to go to save this child? What risks will she take? Who will she trust?
A solution is offered by her brother in law., Hunter, husband of her beloved sister, Patti. He will send her 30 years into the future where in vitro fetal heart surgery can be performed. The baby can survive. Is Hunter sane? Over the next few days Carly comes to believe in Hunter's time travel narrative.
With much planning and discussion for what lies ahead, Hunter sends Carly off to the future.
Landing in 2001, Carly begins her quest to save her child. But even in the future, you can plan, but life has its own plans. The do not always coincide. The bumps in the road that Carly travels range from stressful personal interactions to major life altering issues for herself and others around her.
The author, Diane Chamberlain, takes the reader thru the life Carly must lead as she travels back and forth thru time and interacts with people who do not know or understand the role she is playing in their own lives.
This is a lonely tale that seems to indicate that sheer determination will get you to your goal. As a result, the story becomes more wish than real. You may like a neat and tidy solution but really neat and tidy rarely occurs.
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley. #Netgalley #TheDreamDaughter

I enjoyed this book , it was a much different spin on time travel. Carly goes to extraordinary lengths to protect her unborn child, leaving her close-knit family and putting her full trust in her brother in law. Things don’t go exactly as planned, and what follows is a story about love, family bonds and and following your heart.

ThIs book was fantastic!! Usually I'm not a fan of time travel book, but this one sucked me right in. I read it straight through. It's a mind Bender and a nail biting clencher. So many times I sucked in my breath because there was such a critical pivot in the story. 9-11, Vietnam, the fifth trip. I won't describe the stages of the story because readers will have to experience the thrill, despair, and a lot of anxiety for these characters themselves. I haven't read Chamberlin before, but she is a genius. How she kept the different time frames separate and then the dialogue pertinent to each zone would have given me a migraine. Read this book!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.
I have read a lot of books by Diane Chamberlain and she is one of my favorite authors. I liked this story, but it was not one of my favorites. I think because I am not a fan of time travel. I don't think it is anything to do with the author. I just think it wasn't for me. It was a good story and I will continue to follow this author and read her books.

The Dream Daughter is a unique blend of historical fiction, a contemporary story, and a bit of magic. At the heart of this story is a young woman who is desperate to save her child, a young woman who would believe in and do something completely irrational and radical to ensure that her child is given every chance to survive. The book is a real page-turner, as we follow this incredible and thoughtful journey. At times, the book seemed a little far-fetched to me, so I had to let go of my own notions and just enjoy the ride!

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!  This book (just like all her others) was amazing!!!!!!  I read this book in just 1 day and enjoyed every minute of this story. If you haven't read any Diane Chamberlain books yet you are seriously missing out. 
Carly Sears is a physical therapist in 1970 and she introduces her sister to one of her patients who becomes her brother in law.  Well Carly's husband dies in the  Vietnam War but a few wks after she finds out she is pregnant.  6 mths into her pregnancy she finds out that her baby has a fatal heart problem. Then her brother in law tells her a story that forever changed the course of her life. You seriously don't want to miss out on this book. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this amazing novel.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Diane Chamberlain for the ARC to review.  I was drawn to this book by the cover.  I have never read anything by Diane Chamberlain before, but I will read more of her books in the future. I really enjoyed this one. 

I am not a fan of time travel but this story was different.   I loved the story from beginning to end.  If you had the chance to save your childs life by time travel would you.  All you have to do is travel from 1970 to 1991, as soon as the child is well, find a portal and come home.  Nothing is ever that simple, and so the story goes. 
There were so many twists and turns in this story.  I thought I had the ending all figured out, but the authors ending was brilliant.

This is a must read.

This book has it all! A mother's devoted love for her daughter and a loving supportive family all wrapped into a can not put down book! It's 1970 and Carly finds out her daughter has a heart condition and will not survive after birth. Her brother in law Hunter tells her there is a chance her daughter can be saved. Carly just has to time travel to 2001! At first, Carly thinks Hunter has lost his mind but then she realizes she will do anything to save her daughter. This is an amazing story of a mother's ultimate love for her child. Carly is so incredibly brave and much stronger than she ever thought she could be. I was very sorry to see this book end as I didn't want to leave the characters. I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

The year is 1970 and Caroline Sears baby has a heart defect and the baby needs surgery, and really does not have a chance. The only chance for her baby is to time travel to the time period that they have this surgery. 

To save the baby, she would need to have feral surgery or it wouldn't have a chance to live. Carly's brother in law is a physicist and he knows how to time travel. Carly asks Hunter, How do you time travel and travel to the future? Hunter has it all figured out. Hunter tells her he would have to use his computer to find out exactly where and when she would step off. She asks him, "Step off, what are you talking about. He tells her there are naturally occurring gateways into time. They exist all around the U.S. There are infinite number of them and they are linked to a specific time and place. We call them portals. You have to figure out the exact - within seconds, less than 60 seconds at any rate - time you need to move into a specific portal to get to a particular time and place. You have to step off from something at least sixteen feet above the ground, either a roof of ledge, so that for a few seconds you are not earthbound. To be in the air untethered at the exact right moment. 

This is a rich, genre -spanning breath taking novel about one mother's quest to save her child, unite her family and believe in the believable.

This is the second book that I have read about time travel and I loved both of them. I now want to read more books about time travel. It is so interesting. I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I just wanted it to go on forever and I didn't want it to end. I was captivated while reading this book. Time travel might be unrealistic but it was so interesting to explore another world in the future. 

The characters were all well done. Their feelings were so real. There were so many emotions in this book and I felt all of them. 
I loved the writing style. I am becoming a Diane Chamberlain fan and so far this is the best book that I read by her and I now want to devour more of her books. 

I want to thank NetGalley, Diane Chamberlain and St. Martin's Press for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is wholeheartedly unexpected and refreshing. It is by far one of my favorite Diane Chamberlain books. 
If you had an opportunity to save your unborn child by using time travel (which you don't really believe exists) would you? What if it means that saving your child could mean losing her at the same time? 

These are the questions of a mother's love, family and faith that are explored throughout this book.  Even if you're not a fan of sci fi or fantasy or time travel, give it a shot and I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised.  It's fascinating to look at modern technology and events through the eyes of a woman from the 1970s...something we really don't stop to consider on a daily basis. 

Beneath it all are Chamberlain's strengths as a writer.  You're certain to get immersed in this beautiful writing and character development.  Bravo Ms. Chamberlain.  Bravo.

This book hit a soft spot with me as soon as I read the premise. See, I have an older brother that passed from a heart issue in 1980. They didn’t know until after he was born and surgeries were still experimental then. So as I read this book, I often thought of my mom. What would she have done? If given the opportunity, would she of made the same choices?

The Dream Daughter is Chamberlain’s best yet. Just when I think I can’t love her writing more, she comes at me with this.  The story draws you in from the very first chapter with the introduction of Hunter, an integral character in Carly’s story. 

I was honestly a little surprised at the science fiction element that had a strong part in the story and upon the first introduction, wasn’t sure how it would go. But Chamberlain wove it in like the pro that she is. The book never took on a science fiction feel, even though the obvious element had everything to do with the heart stopping suspense of the novel. 

There is so much love, loss, and strength in this story. What would we do to save our children? Would our choices be in their best interest, even if it breaks us? How in the hell do we possibly have the strength to make those choices? A mother’s love is a tremendous thing. 

This is in my top books of the year. It kept hold of me, the characters and dialogue are incredibly genuine, and the story was so impressively thought out. I highly, highly recommend this to you. It is simply unforgettable. 

I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own. (Out October 2)

Loved getting an advance copy of this book. I love her books. It was different than her typical book but I loved it. It made me believe in  time travel - lol. She did a great job of tying each time period together and it was such fun to reminisce about those periods of time. I suspect this will be a home run for her much like her other books!!

I haven’t read a ton of Diane Chamberlain — after all, this is her 26th book and only the fourth that I’ve read — but I would consider myself a fan. I was so happy to get an email from St. Martin’s Press offering me an ARC of this book. St. Martin’s really is the best.

The premise was so interesting and definitely a big change from the kind of books I usually associate with Diane Chamberlain. Time travel books can be pretty hit or miss for me, and I was a little concerned that I wouldn’t be able to suspend my disbelief at that aspect of the story, but it ended up working out pretty well. I can’t really tell you whether the method of time travel is at all realistic, but it seems to make sense within the context of the book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it’s not my favorite of Chamberlain’s. It raised interesting questions of how far you’d go to save your child and what you’d do to ensure your child’s happiness. I struggled a little bit with the pacing and I didn’t always connect with the characters, but it was a good story.

If you enjoy books like The Time Traveler’s Wife, I would absolutely recommend it.

This book was....different....for sure.  I really, really Diane Chamberlain's writing so when I saw this on netgalley, I had to try for it.  The whole concept of the book is rather far fetched.  I mean, ultimately I kept reading, which is always a sign of a good book, but I kept thinking, "WHY AM I STILL READING THIS?!"

It was an entertaining book....albeit a little strange.

Have always loved Diane Chamberlain books, this has to be the very best by her yet.  One of my favorite types of books is Time Travel and this was a nail bitter.  Hated to put my book down also could not wait to pick it up again, Loved the characters and going in the past.  I envy any one else who gets to read this one for the first time.!I rate it 5 *****(stars)

It's 1970 and Caroline is a young widow ... her husband has just been killed in Vietnam.  When she discovers she is pregnant, she is ecstatic but that turns to devastation when she learns that her unborn child has a birth defect and won't live after it's born.  Her sister's husband, Hunter, comes to Caroline with a solution to save her baby's life and she has to put a lot of trust in him to make it happen ... and she does.

And that's all I can say because I don't want to give anything away.  I started reading this book without reading other reviews so was pleasantly surprised at the direction the book took as it's a genre I enjoy.  And just when I thought things were going to work out for Caroline, there was a new twist I didn't see coming.

I liked the writing style and enjoyed the story.  It bounces around in different time periods and voices but the chapters are marked as to what the time period is and whose voice it is. It is written in first person perspective from Caroline and Hunter's points of view.  I liked the characters, except I found Hunter's mother to be a bit too cold and harsh.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

Firstly, thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Yet another emotional rollercoaster of a read from Diane Chamberlain!

I must admit, time travel is not something that would normally entice me to pick up a book. The only reason I didn't pass on this one is it's author. Having read all of Diane's books I rightly trusted that she could pull it off. 

I think my apprehension about time travel tainted the first few pages, I will definitely buy the hard copy when it is released and re-read it. Once I'd settled down to the familiar feel of the writing, I quickly became absorbed into the lives of the characters, they were relatable and believable, something I didn't think I would be able to say about a book with time travel at it's core. Seamlessly sweeping from one era to the next, with unexpected twists and gut wrenching emotion, I lived every moment of Carly's grief, devastation and joy with her. The depth of empathy this book created within me is what will have me recommending it to everyone.

If you too are dubious about time travel as a subject, The Dream Daughter is 100% worth stepping out of your comfort zone for.

This book grabbed me from the very beginning. It begins in the 1960s with our main character Carly as she is starting to work in a hospital and about to meet Hunter who is labeled as a difficult patient but will make a break through with her. After their introduction you will see why this novel is different. Why did Hunter know the Beatles song that had never been played before? I have never been very interested in the 60/70s time period before I was born so if you feel the same way don’t let that stop you from reading this book. While the era is important it works well and also does not stay there for long. There is a lot of references to Vietnam though so if that’s a difficult subject for you than it could be difficult to read here. 

At the heart of this story is what we will do for love. For the love our spouse but even more for the love a child. This is very much a story of a mother’s love for her child and what that love will mean. Carly is a very sympathetic narrator and I really enjoyed her. I did think the hospital scenes should have been condensed but they were told well. There is a lot about premies in a NICU if that’s a hard subject to read about be warned. 

It is a very moving novel with a lot of bittersweet moments. It is definitely not a novel that will have a true happy ending but it is still very much worth the journey. I do have some issues with some of the choices made. I can see that they were to get to the ending but I still think we could have investigated other options. I had never heard of this author before but I will definitely be looking forward to her next novel and until then I’m excited to check out her previous works. This is a novel that’s hard to review without giving away the material so go ahead and jump in even though you’re not sure what to expect.

As a reader and a reviewer, this is the first novel By Diane Chamberlain that I have read, but it certainly won't be the last. This author certainly knows how to make the absolutely worst things happen to her characters, and I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. I could never predicted how the author would resolve Caroline, the main character's, dilemma, and I was surprised and completely satisfied with the ending. I can't wait to read more of her books.

I posted this on my Twitter account, on Goodreads and my website annepisacano.com