The Dream Daughter: A Novel

I have been obsessed with Diane Chamberlain book since 2014. So far I’ve read 20 of her books including this one. I follow Diane on Facebook and I knew that her next book was going to be a time travel novel. I was extremely nervous. She had never written anything with a this kind of element before and I had no idea how it was going to work. I’m not a huge sci-fi fan and time travel can often can be confusing. Going into this book I thought this book was going to be a big flop for me. Boy was I wrong.This book is addicting! I couldn’t stop reading! I’m a third grade teacher and most school nights I’m lucky if I read anything. I read this whole book in one sitting on a school night. If that doesn’t say everything already, keep reading this review. The pages just melt away like butter. They are so easy to take in and Diane includes so many elements that make you want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen next. So many times, I kept saying “One more chapter” because I had chores around the house to do. Well one more chapter turned into reading the whole book. I couldn’t put it down.The characters and settings were really unique. It was interesting to see how characters translated or changed based off of the time frame they were set in or transitioned to. It was obvious when we had a 1970s character in a present like time frame or a present time frame character in the 1970s. It just showed how good of a writer Diane Chamberlain is. When we were in 2001, I felt transported back to when I was 11 and what the world was like then. I found myself really caring for and empathizing with the characters and freaking out whenever events would occur for them.The sci-fi elements made me the most nervous going into this book. I was scared they would either be too confusing, unrealistic, and not done in a way that I could understand. Diane Chamberlain wrote it this time travel in a very simple way that will let contemporary fans and sci-fi fans alike to access this type of story, which I really appreciated.Overall Diane Chamberlain will stay one of my favorite authors. If you haven’t given her a chance yet, this is the one to try! I will continue to gloat and rave about her. My viewers of my youtube channel always ask me which one I recommend, and I will be recommending this one for a while! Can’t wait for her to come up with something else!Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an early copy of this book.

My book club picked this read, I read many good reviews about it so even though "time travel reads " are not my thing I went into this read with a open mind and with fingers crossed. I tried to enjoy a book that I wouldn't have picked on my own and I'm sorry to say it was so not for me at all. I stayed focused, trying too hard to stay with it until the 50 percent mark but then I had to call it quits. The characters were not interesting, the storyline just got old, same old ,same old day after page after chapter of what felt like the same never ending scene.It just got too boring , too repetitive and too farfetched. I did read the ending, it made me glad I didn't go on , wasn't worth it for me .Not a fan sorry to say .

The Dream Daughter is full of hard choices, good intentions, and unbelievable outcomes.The story begins with Caroline Grant in the 1960's. She’s a physical therapist working in a hospital when she’s assigned a new patient to her schedule. The patient, Hunter Poole has not connected with anybody and they think he has sustained his injuries when he tried to commit suicide by jumping from a three-story building. When he sees her, he immediately points at her and tells her that he wants her as his physical therapist and he will do whatever she wants him to do.Caroline will never know how this meeting will impact her life in the future.A few years later, Carly is now Caroline Sears and she has recently become a widow. Her husband Joe has died in Vietnam and she has recently discovered that she’s pregnant. A bittersweet moment that soon becomes a nightmare when her unborn baby is diagnosed with a possible problem with the aortic valve.In the 1970’s there is nothing to do for her baby. Her unborn daughter will probably die soon after being delivered. Caroline is devastated by the news. Then, her brother in law, Hunter, tells her he has a solution but it will require a leap of faith by Carly. At first, Caroline is skeptical, angry and worried that he's going crazy but when he proves he can do it, she knows she has to take the chance at a miracle.The Dream Daughter shows a mother who's willing to sacrifice anything for the life of her child. I knew Diana Chamberlain was not going to disappoint me with her storytelling. I liked all her main characters especially Caroline and Hunter. Caroline was determined to help her unborn baby and do whatever was necessary to give her a chance at a normal life.Cliffhanger: No4/5 Fangs

Wow!!!!This book kept me up late into the night trying to finish "just one more chapter!" The minute I read "the birth date" I was STUNNED!!!!! I had to ask myself would I have made the "LEAP" that Carly did for my child? My answer is...a resounding YES! GREAT STORYLINE!!!!

So I'll admit, when I first started reading this book I had a hard time getting into- I found it confusing, and I couldn't quite keep up with the logic behind what was happening. However, I really like Diane Chamberlain and wanted to keep reading it with the assumption that it was going to bet better. And i'm so glad I did- what a great book! I wish it was something that could actually happen! Regardless, I kept trying to figure out what the twist was going to be- and I didn't. Which I love, since it's more captivating when you can't figure out what's going to happen! I'd definitely recommend this book- and give it a few chapters before you give up!

When I first started reading this book I did a mental eye roll at the idea of time travel and almost, but only almost, thank goodness, set it aside as "not my thing". I am so glad that I didn't.The story soon drew me in in that unique, Diane Chamberlain way. It is written with so much feeling that it leaks into the story, there is confusion, apprehension, even some fear but most of all, love. It is a warm, affirming story of love and loss, followed by new love and loss which is then repeated, until mistakes are made, some of which are discovered at the right time, some cannot be helped but they all lead to the best outcome possible.This is slightly different from Diane Chamberlain's previous books but still retains the skilful writing and plotting and the teasing of the reader's emotions. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was very sad to come to the end of it.

Diane Chamberlain is my favourite writer of emotional fiction and The Dream Daughter is a perfect example of why she’s not going to be knocked from that top spot any time soon. Carly Sears is newly pregnant when she receives the heart-breaking news that her husband has been killed in the Vietnam War. Sadly, the baby she carries suffers from a severe heart problem that is impossible to fix in 1970. However, Carly’s brother-in-law, Hunter, is certain her baby can be saved, as long as Carly is willing to be transported to the future. The time travel element of the story is so expertly woven throughout the narrative that it is easy to suspend disbelief. In fact, the uncertainty of time travel adds tension to what is already a gripping, moving read.The dilemma Carly faces, torn between the family she loves in 1970 and securing a future for her baby daughter, is almost too hard to contemplate and yet, as ever, Diane Chamberlain makes it impossible not to read on. One of my favourite reads of the year.

Had this on preorder for months so when it arrived yesterday I got stuck in straight away. A couple of chapters in when I realised where the storyline was heading I had a sinking feeling that my favourite author had gone rogue on me. I'm happy to say that wasn't the case at all. Although it wasn't at all what I was expecting from Diane Chamberlain it was still a cracking book and I've finished it in less than 24hrs. I rarely do second readings on books but for this one I might make an exception.

Having read books by Diane Chamberlain for many years, when I heard I about this one I bought it.I have never, ever read a book like it. I do not know how to describe this incredible story.The story of Carly, the amazing experiences she had; I really, really don’t know how to review this book without giving the journey away. So a few words, pregnancy, problems, time travel, pain, love and a lot, lot more. One amazing incredible read how on earth Diane wrote such a different book I will never ever understand. How she thought of and compiled the story is amazing (yes I am using the word amazing again, as I can think of no other word to describe it, and yet I don’t feel it is a powerful enough word).I truly, truly recommend it

I’ll put it out there, Diane Chamberlain is my favourite author so I am always eager for her next book to come out and I preorder as soon as it is available.That doesn’t mean that every book is as good as the last and I definitely have my favourites which I recommend to family and friends so that they can get as much pleasure from this author as I do ..... the dream daughter will be one of those favourites.This book is not ‘back to the future’, the story is about the love of a mother for her child, time travel is essential to the story but not THE STORY so do not be put off by other reviews or you will be missing out on the best read you will have this year