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    The Good Dream: A Novel
    The Good Dream: A Novel
    The Good Dream: A Novel
    Audiobook9 hours

    The Good Dream: A Novel

    Written by Donna VanLiere

    Narrated by Donna VanLiere

    5/5

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    About this audiobook

    In this full-length novel from the New York Times Bestselling author of The Christmas Hope series Donna VanLiere has written a beautifully rendered and poignant story about one woman's unlikely path to motherhood and the healing power of love.

    Tennessee, 1950: Still single and in her early thirties, Ivorie Walker is considered an old maid; a label she takes with good humor and a grain of salt. But when her mother dies, leaving her to live alone in the house she grew up in, to work the farm she was raised to take care of, she finds herself lost in a kind of loneliness she hadn't expected. After years of rebuffing the advances of imperfect, yet eligible bachelors from her small town, Ivorie is without companionship with more love in her heart and time on her hands than she knows what to do with. But her life soon changes when a feral, dirty-faced boy who has been sneaking onto her land to steal from her garden comes into her life. Even though he runs back into the hills as quickly as he arrives, she's determined to find out who he is because something about the young boy haunts her. What would make him desperate enough to steal and eat from her garden? But what she can't imagine is what the boy faces, each day and night, in the filthy lean-to hut miles up in the hills. Who is he? How did he come to live in the hills? Where did he come from? And, more importantly, can she save him? As Ivorie steps out of her comfort zone to uncover the answers, she unleashes a firestorm in the town-a community that would rather let secrets stay that way.


    This pitch perfect story of redemption and the true meaning of familial love is Donna VanLiere at her very best.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateJul 3, 2012
    ISBN9781427221889
    Author

    Donna VanLiere

    Donna VanLiere is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her much-loved Christmas Hope series includes The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Blessing (both of which were adapted into movies for CBS Television), The Christmas Secret, The Christmas Journey, and The Christmas Hope, which was adapted into a film by Lifetime. She is also the author of The Angels of Morgan Hill and Finding Grace. VanLiere is the recipient of a Retailer's Choice Award for Fiction, a Dove Award, a Silver Angel Award, an Audie Award for best inspirational fiction, and a nominee for a Gold Medallion Book of the Year. She is a gifted speaker who makes regular appearances at conferences. She lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with her husband and their children.

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    Reviews for The Good Dream

    5/5

    21 ratings9 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Despite the amazing reviews of The Good Dream by Donna VanLiere, I was hesitant about reading it once hearing that the author was described as an inspirational Christian writer. I was nervous about the book being too preachy or religious, but I was wrong. I absolutely loved this story. In fact, I would consider it one of my top five favorite novels for 2012. The Good Dream is a story with substance that takes place in a small Tennessee town. The characters are so beautifully developed, that the reader feels a closeness with them. Simply summarized, Ivorie, one of the nicest, kindest characters, along with her brother, Henry, who also has a special way about him, and a cast of quirky characters, save a severely abused boy. But, the story is far from simplistic. As Ivorie helps this child, she saves her own lonely life as well.It is a book about values and about doing what's right in the face of adversity, challenges and hardships. If this book represents Christian Fiction, then I have found a new genre to devour. I highly recommend this book. It is not to be missed.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I won this book via Goodreads First Reads.This book was really good. It was a page turner and written eloquently. I thought the author captured the voice of the south very well. The narrator, Ivorie, actually reminded me a bit of Sookie Stackhouse in the way that she was southern, bubbly, and not the norm compared to the people around. I suppose she was much like Sookie in the ways that most of her friends disapprove of her choices, but she stands by them anyway.I honestly wasn’t sure what would happen in the book, so it kept me guessing. I loved Ivorie’s personality, her big heart, and her dog, Sally. She opens her heart to a small, filthy, and abused child. This is such a tender southern story. I don’t read much southern fiction, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story. All of the characters were well described and I felt like I knew them all. The narration switches between Ivorie and the boy, and later, Ivorie’s brother Henry. When Ivorie takes in the boy, I was surprised by the hostility of the townsfolk, and even more surprised by some of the characters who were supportive. I tend to avoid stories set in such times where women weren’t really seen as equal, because a lot of times, the women in the book disappoint me. I love to see female characters challenge the norm, which is probably why I loved Ivorie so much. While still sticking to the tight knit community feeling that I’m sure those towns had back in those days, the author manages to present a female character with guts. I would definitely recommend this book to others, as it was well written and enjoyable, set in a believable small Tennessee town in the 1950’s. Great read!
    • 4/5
      I liked the title that was chosen for this book although it was some way into the story that I realized how the title connected to the story line. It was at a heartbreaking part of the story where Ivorie is standing at the bedside of the young boy she toke into her home and life.
    • 5/5
      Author Donna VanLiere certainly doesn't disappoint her fans with her first full-length novel. This book stirs the emotions,warms the heart and challenges the mind. She places such characters as Ivorie Walker, an old maid stated by many in thetown because she is in her thirties and not married. Then there is George Coley who wants to marry Ivorie but when she findsa starving, abused boy raiding her garden that she wants to help, he decides that isn't the life for him. This little boy has been abused, neglected, scared and unable to speak because of a cleft palette. Ivorie can't turn her back on him, even thoughmost of the town would quickly say it is too much for a single lady like herself to ever get involved in. Ivorie's brother Henry and his wife quickly aid Ivorie in her endeavor to help this little boy who after much time she learns is named Peter. She tells the little boy that his mother must have named him that because according to the Bible Peter meansa rock and he is one strong and determined little boy. It is amazing what a person can see through the eyes of a young little boy. Because Ivorie isn't willing to give up on this young lad, she is blessed in return by finding a young man who is smart, loving, engaging, desires to learn and responds with great affection. This book challenges the reader to not just look at people in passing rather to look deeper within ones heart to see who they truly are and more importantly who they can become. It may make the reader ask some pointed questions, such as: the one who is mean spirited, the hard to get along with, the screamer or hurtful person could be someone who has encountered a great deal within their own life and they aren't sure of how to respond to life's challenges? Peter challenges the reader to make sure how we respond to others is how we would like others to respond to us. Ivorie shares the love and compassion of Jesus as she reaches out to Peter to make a difference within his life.There is suspense, drama, action, romance, and laughter to engage the reader as they turn page by page to find out what willhappen next. The author does a great job of leading the reader through one situation to the next always building and causingthe reader to want more. This is a definite 5 of 5 book, that most any reader would enjoy and certainly one that leaves the reader feeling involved in thestory.
    • 5/5
      The Good DreamDonna VanLiereSt. Martin’s PressPublication Date: July 3, 2012Fiction5 StarsKnown best for her Christmas Hope Series Donna VanLiere proves that Holidays are not the only time of the year in which people can not only experience hope joy and love in their life. In her newest full length novel Ms. VanLiere takes us back once more to Morgan Hill Tennessee, back to a time and place that is between the past and the present.The Good Dream is the story of two individuals who meet in an unexpected way. Ivorie Walker is destined it seems to become an old maid. As the years have passed her by now in her early thirties she still lives with her mother and works in the school library. As her mother tries to play matchmaker with every eligible bachelor in town Ivorie just keeps putting her off till she suddenly finds herself alone after her mother dies. The Boy only knows one thing how to survive the best way he knows how, by raiding Ivories garden. Not only has he been physically and mentally abused, this feral boy from the hills cannot talk. When Ivorie finally meets up with the boy she rescue’s him from a fate worse than death. Now not only are the town’s people against her but also her new beau. As she works with the boy she finally learns his name and it fits him well. As their relationship grows so does trouble on the home front.This is just a small touch of what this story is about. Ms.VanLiere takes the reader on a journey of one woman’s love and determination to save the life of one little boy, the sacrifices she makes in her own life and the amazing results at the end. I laughed, got upset and cried as I read this book. The book goes to prove that there is power in strength, courage and love, and that alone can change the life of anyone.Out of all of Donna VanLieres books it would be hard for me to really pick a favorite but The Good Dream is right up at the topI was one of the 500 chosen for the Dream Team to read the Advanced Readers Edition. A positive review was not required and all opinions and ratings associated with my review are strictly my own thoughts about the book.
    • 5/5
      I just love Southern fiction and The Good Dream is Southern fiction done well. Ivorie is a wonderful character – a strong and caring woman who refuses to bend to society’s will. She lives in a small town with a big cast of characters; it reminded me of a Fannie Flagg novel in that way. The author uses wonderfully descriptive metaphors filled with Southern charm. Some of my favorite examples:“As useful as a back pocket on a shirt”“Slower than a turtle after Thanksgiving dinner”“Helpful as teats on a bull”There is a darker side in this book however. Some very bad things happen to the boy in the first part of the novel that might be hard for the fainthearted to read. I didn’t find any of it gratuitous though.The narration is first person when Ivorie and her brother are each telling their story. Parts of the story are also told from the boy’s point of view and I absolutely loved the device the author used for his narration. (I don’t want to give too much away so I won’t get more detailed about that part.)When I saw that the author was the narrator of the audio book, I was apprehensive. That doesn’t always go so well. After listening, I was pleasantly surprised – she did a great job. She used a light Southern accent for the prose and then varied the thickness of the accent for the dialogue depending on who was speaking. I surprised when I listened to the author interview at the end of the book to hear that she doesn’t actually have a Southern accent at all because it sounded so authentic when she was narrating. She even did a really good snobby Southern accent for the banker.After I listened to this book, I learned that the author is considered a Christian fiction author. I don’t know if this book is considered Christian fiction; I didn’t feel like it was while I listening to it. It is inspirational but it doesn’t have a lot of religious talk or preaching in it. I would highly recommend The Good Dream to anyone.
    • 5/5
      Love the animation of these characters! I'm from Knoxville, TN and this is such a heartfelt story! ❤
    • 5/5
      Perfection!! I absolutely did not want it to end. Generally speaking, I’m not a fan of authors narrating their own books. However, Ms VanLiere’s narration brought the characters and the setting to life. My heart longs to know more about Ivorey, Henry, and the Boy. What’s happening a few years beyond the end of The Good Dream?
    • 5/5
      Beautiful, uplifting story. I loved the wonderful, kind main characters. Highly recommended.