ANY DREAM WILL DO

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. 

Release Date: August 8, 2017

Ballantine Books

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Debbie Macomber's newest release is a sweet romance filled with second chances. I honestly don't read many sweet romances any longer, as I usually like a bit more heat to my stories. However, I found myself really enjoying Any Dream Will Do as I read Shay's story.

I love watching characters grow over the course of a book, and I'm pretty sure Shay Benson grows and changes more than any other character I've read in some time. Thanks to some bad choices Shay made to protect her brother Caden, Shay ends up serving time in prison and when she gets out the first place she sees is Pastor Drew Douglas's church. I loved that for the first time since his wife's death, Drew saw someone he connected with and wanted to help.

Shay was so bitter and full of attitude as Any Dream Will Do began. I loved seeing her going from a woman with a huge chip on her shoulder to a woman who found her place in the world, both in her career and even with a relationship. The slow growth of the relationship between Drew and Shay made me believe in their relationship lasting. I loved that Drew's kids loved Shay every bit as much as she loved them and she was so very protective of them both.

Shay's brother Caden is still a part of her past that comes back to haunt her and her new life. I loved that Shay made great friends with some of the homeless men in the area, and they wanted to help her find her brother and keep her safe from him at the same time. Shay went from a completely closed off person to someone who became a true friend to people in all walks of life. Shay is one of my favorite characters I've read from Debbie Macomber.

Any Dream Will Do was a very satisfying sweet romance. I loved seeing Shay work so hard to make her second chances count. I loved seeing her find love and family for the first time, and find real friends. Fans of Debbie Macomber will adore Any Dream Will Do, and fans of sweet romance will find a wonderful new story.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (B)