Any Dream Will Do

Any Dream Will Do by Debbie Macomber

Shay Benson adored her younger brother, Caden, and that got her into trouble. When he owed money, Shay realized she would do anything to help him avoid the men who were threatening him, and she crossed lines she never should have crossed. Now, determined to start fresh, she finds herself in search of a place to stay and wanders into a church to escape from the cold.

Pastor Drew Douglas adored his wife. But when he lost her, it was all he could do to focus on his two beautiful kids, and his flock came in a distant third. Now, as he too is thinking about a fresh start, he walks through his sanctuary and finds Shay sitting in a pew.

The pair strike up a friendship—Drew helps Shay get back on her feet, and she reignites his sense of purpose—that, over time, turns into something deeper, something soulful, spiritual, and possibly romantic. Even Drew’s two children are taken with this woman who has brought light back into their lives. Perhaps most important, Shay learns to trust again as she, in turn, proves herself trustworthy to her adopted community.

But Caden’s return to town and a disastrous secret threaten to undo the life Shay has tried so hard to rebuild. It will take the utmost courage and faith if she and Drew hope to find healing and open their hearts to a brighter future.–goodreads

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book reminded me of all the reasons that I look forward to Debbie Macomber novels. The friendships formed during the course of the book were wonderful and the romance was sweet and charming.

This author has always been good at making unlikely love matches work and this book is no exception. I really liked the characters here, both the main characters and the supporting cast. Shay had quite a history and from the beginning, she touched my heart and I wanted to see here settle down and succeed. Drew was lovable right away and the descriptions of his children made me feel like they were family.

I like books where there is a point to the love story and the characters have to work to overcome obstacles and that’s what happens here. The hurdles they face are things that any one of us could be up against and that makes the book more authentic. Regular people with pasts and current concerns make Debbie’s romances close to the heart. This was a heartstring-tugging book.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.