The Good Dream by Donna VanLiere

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• ISBN-13: 978-0312367770 

1950 Tennessee, a time and place that straddles the past and present. Ivorie Walker is considered an old maid by the town (though she’s only in her early thirties) and she takes that label with good humor and a grain of salt. Ever since her parents passed away, she has hidden her loneliness behind a fierce independence and a claim of not needing anyone. But her mother’s death hit her harder than anyone suspects and Ivorie wonders if she will be alone forever.

 

When she realizes that someone has been stealing vegetables from her garden—a feral, dirty-faced boy who disappears into the hills—something about him haunts Ivorie. She can’t imagine what would make him desperate enough to steal and eat from her garden. But what she truly 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 secret. - Taken from Amazon.com **This book is not available for purchase until July 3, 2012. 

I received this book from Donna to read and review. Being a fan of Donna's Christmas books I jumped at the chance to read it. I enjoyed this book. The characters were very real to me and I felt for each of them. I wanted to reach thru the book and get a hold of "the man" and hurt him for what he was doing to Peter. I was hoping beyond hope that Ivorie could help Peter. I will not say much more about the actual story as it would ruin it for you. But if I were you I would run out and pre-order this book right now. It is every bit as good as the Christmas series. I am thankful I got a chance to read this book and did not have to wait. This was a story of strength and healing.  5 Stars for me.

* I received this book for a honest review from the author.