The Good Dream

Tennessee, 1950: Thirty-year-old Ivorie Walker lives alone in her family home, working at the local mercantile and tending to her garden. She notices a feral boy stealing food from her land and becomes determined to help him. The story alternates between Ivorie's perspective and that of the young boy, revealing his background and circumstances. Their parallel journeys intersect as Ivorie works to gain the boy's trust while facing resistance from some members of her small mountain community. The narrative explores themes of healing, belonging, and the courage required to stand up for what's right in the face of opposition. Through the relationship between Ivorie and the boy, VanLiere presents a meditation on how family bonds can transcend conventional definitions.

Readers call this a heartfelt story about overcoming trauma and building unexpected family bonds in 1950s Tennessee. The slower pace and focus on character development resonates with fans of Southern fiction. Readers appreciated: - Authentic portrayal of rural Appalachian life and dialect - Complex relationship between Ivorie and the boy - Balance of heavy themes with moments of hope - Historical accuracy and period details Common criticisms: - Takes 50-75 pages to gain momentum - Some found the dialect writing distracting - Several readers wanted more closure on secondary characters Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,100+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (200+ ratings) "A simple story told with grace and sensitivity" - Goodreads reviewer "The dialect writing took me right out of the story" - Amazon reviewer "Character development makes up for the slow start" - BookBrowse review

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🌟 Author Donna VanLiere originally wrote romance novels before shifting to inspirational fiction with The Good Dream and other works 📚 The book is set in 1950s Morgan Hill, Tennessee, a time and place where child abuse often went unreported and unaddressed 💕 VanLiere based parts of the story on her own experience as an adoptive mother and her deep connection to children in need 🏆 The author's other works include the bestselling Christmas Hope series, which has sold over 1 million copies worldwide 🎬 Several of VanLiere's books have been adapted into Hallmark Channel and CBS movies, though The Good Dream has not yet been among them