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Marta's Legacy #2
Her Daughter's Dream
In the dramatic conclusion to the New York Times best seller Her Mother's Hope, Francine Rivers delivers a rich and deeply moving story about the silent sorrows that can tear a family apart and the grace and forgiveness that can heal even the deepest wounds.
Growing up isn't easy for little Carolyn Arundel. With her mother, Hildemara, quarantined to her room with tuberculosis, Carolyn forms a special bond with her oma Marta, who moves in to care for the household. But as tensions between Hildie and Marta escalate, Carolyn believes she is to blame. When Hildie returns to work and Marta leaves, Carolyn and her brother grow up as latchkey kids in a world gripped by the fear of the Cold War.
College offers Carolyn the chance to find herself, but a family tragedy shatters her newfound independence. Rather than return home, she cuts all ties and disappears into the heady counterculture of San Francisco. When she reemerges two years later, more lost than ever, she reluctantly turns to her family to help rebuild a life for her and her own daughter, May Flower Dawn.
Just like Carolyn, May Flower Dawn develops a closer bond with her grandmother, Hildie, than with her mother, causing yet another rift between generations. But as Dawn struggles to avoid the mistakes of those who went before her, she vows that somehow she will be a bridge between the women in her family rather than the wall that separates them forever.
Spanning from the 1950s to present day, Her Daughter's Dream is the emotional final chapter of an unforgettable family saga about the sacrifices every mother makes for her daughter and the very nature of unconditional love.
580 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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8657 people want to read
About the author
Francine Rivers
58 books20.8k followersNew York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers continues to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her numerous bestsellers include Redeeming Love, A Voice in the Wind, and Bridge to Haven, and her work has been translated into more than thirty different languages. She is a member of Romance Writers of America's coveted Hall of Fame as well as a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).
www.francinerivers.com
www.facebook.com/FrancineRivers
Twitter: @FrancineRivers
www.francinerivers.com
www.facebook.com/FrancineRivers
Twitter: @FrancineRivers
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,267 reviews
October 4, 2010
I have one word that sums up my overall feelings about this book. It was WONDERFUL! I really enjoyed the first book, but loved this one even more! I was so inspired as I read about how the Lord pulled each of these ladies through the hard times and I cried more than once while reading this book. Not because it was sad (though I was) but because I really cared about the characters. And honestly, even the sad feelings were a healing, rejoicing kind of sad because of the beauty that God brought forth from the ashes in their lives.
The title of this book couldn't have been more perfect. At first I thought the daughter who had the dream was Carolyn, but it ended up being Dawn. And what a powerful story she had. I loved how realistically her struggles with Jason were portrayed. I loved how I lived in her head and in her skin for so long. I literally escaped into her world. This author is so incredibly gifted. She does a fantastic job of bringing characters to life, and having her readers join their journeys and struggles in every life-transforming story she writes.
This is the kind of fiction I aspire to write myself. Fiction that comes alive, that brings healing, that deals with real-life, painful issues, and that shows the heart of God and the redemption of Christ. What a beautiful story! I dare say that this book ranks at the top of my favorites list for this year. I've read many great books so far in 2010, but this one stirred my heart, challenged my thinking, and encouraged my spirit the most. Wonderful, wonderful book!
The title of this book couldn't have been more perfect. At first I thought the daughter who had the dream was Carolyn, but it ended up being Dawn. And what a powerful story she had. I loved how realistically her struggles with Jason were portrayed. I loved how I lived in her head and in her skin for so long. I literally escaped into her world. This author is so incredibly gifted. She does a fantastic job of bringing characters to life, and having her readers join their journeys and struggles in every life-transforming story she writes.
This is the kind of fiction I aspire to write myself. Fiction that comes alive, that brings healing, that deals with real-life, painful issues, and that shows the heart of God and the redemption of Christ. What a beautiful story! I dare say that this book ranks at the top of my favorites list for this year. I've read many great books so far in 2010, but this one stirred my heart, challenged my thinking, and encouraged my spirit the most. Wonderful, wonderful book!
June 24, 2022
I don't always enjoy realistic fiction (I sometimes find the genre a little boring), but I wasn't bored for a single minute with this duology. Marta (from Her Mother's Hope) has always been my favorite, and it was so beautiful to see her wisdom and maturity in this second book. I also thought that Rivers handled the switch between Hildemara's POV and her daughter's POV incredibly well, especially considering the significant rift between them.
The themes of grace and love and healing were real and raw and truly profound, and the ending was both beautiful and tragic. Overall, it's just my opinion that you can't read this series without coming to the conclusion that Rivers is a writer with immense talent.
For anyone who is wondering about the content and whether this book is clean, this duology has much less sexual content than Redeeming Love and Bridge to Haven do. The latter two can also be darker at times than this series. I'm not sure about Rivers's other books since I haven't read them yet, but Marta's Legacy is a great Christian fiction series to read if you've been curious about Rivers's books but still wary of the content of her other books.
Content warnings:
Recommended for mature readers 12+ (conservative recommendation for readers 15+)
Please note that I read the audio copy of Her Daughter's Dream. 5/5 stars for that, by the way!
The themes of grace and love and healing were real and raw and truly profound, and the ending was both beautiful and tragic. Overall, it's just my opinion that you can't read this series without coming to the conclusion that Rivers is a writer with immense talent.
For anyone who is wondering about the content and whether this book is clean, this duology has much less sexual content than Redeeming Love and Bridge to Haven do. The latter two can also be darker at times than this series. I'm not sure about Rivers's other books since I haven't read them yet, but Marta's Legacy is a great Christian fiction series to read if you've been curious about Rivers's books but still wary of the content of her other books.
Content warnings:
Recommended for mature readers 12+ (conservative recommendation for readers 15+)
Please note that I read the audio copy of Her Daughter's Dream. 5/5 stars for that, by the way!
April 23, 2018
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
First Sentence: Dear Rosie, Trip called.
What an excellent conclusion to Marta's Legacy
First Sentence: Dear Rosie, Trip called.
What an excellent conclusion to Marta's Legacy
Read
May 9, 2011I love all of Francine Rivers books and I love them because of the theme that runs through each one of them: God redeems. He takes broken people from broken places and heals them. He makes all things new. This book (and the one preceding it) was a little different kind of book for Francine. This book grew out of her desire to understand the relationships between the women in her own life. She did a good job of accurately portraying the complexity inherent in human relationships and in particular, in the relationships between women. Francine's writing style is interesting to me. She doesn't really go into a lot of detail nor does she use a lot of flowery words and phrases. She simply tells a good story. It's the story itself that keeps you reading. Not the complexity of the plot. Not the "beautiful writing." Just the story. Her books remind me, in a sense, of the children's books we go back to over and over again both as children and as adults. I think people return time and again to Francine Rivers books because we like the stories she weaves. And I'm thankful she's an excellent story weaver.
February 14, 2011
I liked the first book better because Marta was the most interesting and well-developed character of the four women.
I liked this second book less because there were just too many depressing events in Carolyn's life. Surely no one person has experienced that many tragedies: parental neglect, sexual molestation and rape as a child, drug/alcohol abuse, death of a sibling, being homeless and hungry, condemned by a self-righteous preacher when she was trying to turn her life around, and finally the death of her daughter to cancer. I began to dread reading the book for fear of what terrible event might come next. For example, I could hardly read about little Christopher swimming in the pool because I was afraid that he would accidently drown while Dawn was watching him.
I liked the resolution and the way it occurred, but I don't understand why Dawn had to die. I would have preferred all five generations reconciled and present at the end.
I liked this second book less because there were just too many depressing events in Carolyn's life. Surely no one person has experienced that many tragedies: parental neglect, sexual molestation and rape as a child, drug/alcohol abuse, death of a sibling, being homeless and hungry, condemned by a self-righteous preacher when she was trying to turn her life around, and finally the death of her daughter to cancer. I began to dread reading the book for fear of what terrible event might come next. For example, I could hardly read about little Christopher swimming in the pool because I was afraid that he would accidently drown while Dawn was watching him.
I liked the resolution and the way it occurred, but I don't understand why Dawn had to die. I would have preferred all five generations reconciled and present at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2011
This second book following 'Her mother's hope' continues to trace the relationship between mothers and daughters over the generations. I found the book very interesting when I pondered about the friction and hidden messages and nuances that passed between mom, daughter and grand-daughter. Marta's daughter Hildie...Hildie's daughter Caroline....Caroline's daughter May Flower Dawn. The book dwells on how each of these women behaved with her daughter in the best way she thought to do trying not to repeat the mistakes her mother had done. In that process, the mother ended up making new errors of judgement and ended up alienating herself from her daughter. It took Marta her entire lifetime to realize how the misunderstandings could have occured and Dawn's warmth and love to bring the women back together. This book heals relationships and makes one realize how little incidents that may have occured a long time ago, can remain embedded in one's mind and scar, hurt one for their entire life.
A great book to read!
A great book to read!
December 27, 2010
This book picks up where HER MOTHER'S HOPE left off, and continues the family saga into present times. I won't try to relate the plot, but since the chronology of this book was similar to my own life, I could identify with the characters who were impacted by the Vietnam War and the social revolution that took place around that time in history.
I will repeat the following from my review of HER MOTHER'S HOPE because it applies to both books:
The story has many parallels with the author's own family, and she successfully weaves fascinating, if disturbing, historical facts about the desperately hard life of immigrants (women in particular), especially those on the frontier. As the generations unfold, current events, in the form of wars and social upheaval, impact the characters in ways that many were actually impacted at the time.
I had understood that Francine Rivers was a Christian writer, so I was a bit apprehensive about how this would be handled in the book...so often Christian principles and morals are shoe-horned into a story just to make a point. I was impressed that not only did Rivers avoid this pitfall of many Christian fiction writers, she managed to portray characters facing real-life challenges and tests to their faith in a way that seemed real and powerful, without feeling contrived.
I found myself being aggravated at one character or another for being so obtuse as to not realize the pain they were causing those they loved, but sadly, this too was probably more real than I'd care to admit. We often hurt those we love most of all. Still, I wanted to knock some heads together.
At the heart of it all, though, the plot resolves the worst of these conflicts through forgiveness, courage to admit mistakes, and the healing power of love -- God's love and our love or each other.
I will repeat the following from my review of HER MOTHER'S HOPE because it applies to both books:
The story has many parallels with the author's own family, and she successfully weaves fascinating, if disturbing, historical facts about the desperately hard life of immigrants (women in particular), especially those on the frontier. As the generations unfold, current events, in the form of wars and social upheaval, impact the characters in ways that many were actually impacted at the time.
I had understood that Francine Rivers was a Christian writer, so I was a bit apprehensive about how this would be handled in the book...so often Christian principles and morals are shoe-horned into a story just to make a point. I was impressed that not only did Rivers avoid this pitfall of many Christian fiction writers, she managed to portray characters facing real-life challenges and tests to their faith in a way that seemed real and powerful, without feeling contrived.
I found myself being aggravated at one character or another for being so obtuse as to not realize the pain they were causing those they loved, but sadly, this too was probably more real than I'd care to admit. We often hurt those we love most of all. Still, I wanted to knock some heads together.
At the heart of it all, though, the plot resolves the worst of these conflicts through forgiveness, courage to admit mistakes, and the healing power of love -- God's love and our love or each other.
January 28, 2021
Not the ending I would have chosen but wow. This book/series will stick with me like most of the author’s books. So appreciated the reminder of what God can do when we step back and let Him.
February 27, 2020
4.5 stars
Every time I start reading a novel by Francine Rivers, I wonder why I haven't read more! This author writes with such raw, riveting detail ... I'm just completely drawn into the story and can hardly put the book down! Her Daughter's Dream is the conclusion of MARTA'S LEGACY, and I'm so glad I finally picked it up. What a tumultuous ride! Francine Rivers says that this duology explores some of her own family history, which is intriguing. It was heart-wrenching, and deeply interesting, and beautiful. I wept, I raged, I rejoiced. A truly well-done story. I can hardly wait to pick up something else from this author!
Every time I start reading a novel by Francine Rivers, I wonder why I haven't read more! This author writes with such raw, riveting detail ... I'm just completely drawn into the story and can hardly put the book down! Her Daughter's Dream is the conclusion of MARTA'S LEGACY, and I'm so glad I finally picked it up. What a tumultuous ride! Francine Rivers says that this duology explores some of her own family history, which is intriguing. It was heart-wrenching, and deeply interesting, and beautiful. I wept, I raged, I rejoiced. A truly well-done story. I can hardly wait to pick up something else from this author!
July 15, 2023
Goodness! This book was so long, it took me four days to finish it, which rarely happens to me. Still, it was worth it, because the emotional journey the characters took in this novel packed a serious punch. Even though, as a male, I'm not the target audience for this--and some of the details about pregnancy and motherhood may make unmarried people with "Y" chromosomes uncomfortable--I have to hand it to the author; she hit it out of the park with this one.
August 7, 2012
I liked Her Mother's Hope so much more than this sad story. Dawn develops a closer bond with her grandmother, Hildemara, than with her mother, just as Carolyn did with her Oma, Marta, causing more rifts between generations of mothers and daughters. Frustrating story with the characters not seeing they were repeating the same mistakes over and over.
May 15, 2025
I am a daughter. But only recently have a thought of how complicated and frail the mother-daughter relationship can be. This book highlights communication mistakes, pride mistakes, ignorance mistakes and the lack of knowledge of how to show love. I also believe this book is about redemption and forgiveness. It was really inspiring and I enjoyed every page of this book.
January 1, 2014
Her Daughter's Dream is the sequel to Her Mother's Hope and concludes this five generational story. Beginning where the first book left off, the reader joins Hildemara as she is struck by tuberculosis and forced to ask Marta to help with her children. She fights her warring feelings for her mother, thankful for her help but jealous of Marta's closeness to her children. I had thought that Marta was a hard-hearted mother and expected Hildemara to be different. After all, she was a nurse and loved to serve others. However, she is more senselessly cruel to her daughter Carolyn than Marta had ever been to her.
I realize that we are supposed to pick up on the repeated mistakes weaving their way through the generations, but the lack of affection that Hildemara showed Carolyn just didn't make any sense. We are supposed to understand that she doesn't allow herself too close due to her disease, but that is no excuse for the complete lack of parental supervision that leads Carolyn to disaster.
One of the things that bothered me about this series is that the reader is never shown major events. Taking place over the course of the 20th century, this story (including both books) includes characters who fight in World War II & Vietnam, attend Woodstock, and participate in the cleanup after the World Trade Center attack. The reader gets only vague references to these events and the story never moves to the point of view of the characters involved, unless it is something they mention later. We miss out on world history in favor of once again seeing Hildie do dishes.
As with the first book, this second installment has each character making major life decisions without discussing them with anyone, family secrets, and people's inability to say 'I love you' as ongoing themes. Once again, I was astounded at how many pages were taken up with inane topics like high school dating in the 1980s. Let me get this straight, we get a letter about the results of Vietnam, but 100 pages on teenage courtship?
The ending was a predictable and unsatisfying happily ever after, though I can't say what ending would have made it worth the 1,000+ pages I've now read between these two books. Rivers gets the family dynamics perfectly, but a little more was needed than that to make this a good novel.
I realize that we are supposed to pick up on the repeated mistakes weaving their way through the generations, but the lack of affection that Hildemara showed Carolyn just didn't make any sense. We are supposed to understand that she doesn't allow herself too close due to her disease, but that is no excuse for the complete lack of parental supervision that leads Carolyn to disaster.
One of the things that bothered me about this series is that the reader is never shown major events. Taking place over the course of the 20th century, this story (including both books) includes characters who fight in World War II & Vietnam, attend Woodstock, and participate in the cleanup after the World Trade Center attack. The reader gets only vague references to these events and the story never moves to the point of view of the characters involved, unless it is something they mention later. We miss out on world history in favor of once again seeing Hildie do dishes.
As with the first book, this second installment has each character making major life decisions without discussing them with anyone, family secrets, and people's inability to say 'I love you' as ongoing themes. Once again, I was astounded at how many pages were taken up with inane topics like high school dating in the 1980s. Let me get this straight, we get a letter about the results of Vietnam, but 100 pages on teenage courtship?
The ending was a predictable and unsatisfying happily ever after, though I can't say what ending would have made it worth the 1,000+ pages I've now read between these two books. Rivers gets the family dynamics perfectly, but a little more was needed than that to make this a good novel.
February 6, 2018
Beautifully written and an intriguing storyline that kept me reading. Little bits of information slowly coming out. It was great.
The writing is spectacular and from the very first chapter i was invested in Carolyn and her future. I now want to read everything by Francine Rivers.
Carolyns mother was sick so instead of the mother daughter relationship she wanted she became close with her grandmother. Carolyn loved her grandmother but once her mother got better Carolyns mother was jealous of their relationship. From then on Carolyn and her morther relationship is strained. As carolyn grows up her family is torn apart further and all she has is her brother Charlie. her older brother Charlie decided he wants to serve in the war and Carolyn wants nothing more then to keep him with her because without him she was alone. But once Charlie leaves and Carolyn leaves for college life is not as bad as it once was. Carolyn makes a friend, shes not the best of influences on Carolyn but she is a good friend a friend that carolyn needed.
Theoughout carolyns early years she belived in God and went to church with her grandmother but as carolyns mother pushed grandmother away she also unintentionally pushed God out of Carolyns life. Without Carolyns grandma she was lost and confused and alone for a long while but she made a friend and things started looking up but reconnected with her grandmother or not why would she believe in someone that put they through so much misery.
Carolyn has struggles with faith, as i think most do. Whe something bad happens, why does it happen? It can be avoided and fixes without problem for God so why does he hurt his followers so.
“If he loved us he wouldnt have wars and famines. People wouldnt die of diseasr or be born with deformities or mentally retarded. I don’t believe in God anymore”.
I agreee with you g Carolyn, why on earth should we believe in soemthing that does all that?!
The after a death in the family everything gets worse for Carolyn. With her faith, family, relationships and morals. And thats all within the first 100 pages.
Highly recommend this beautiful novel!
The book went through 3-4 generations and getting to see each of them grow up and how their lives changed throughout their life was really unique and beautiful.
Oh and that ending!! Wow. Just read it.
January 16, 2025
This book broke me. I’m gonna need a minute. 😭
July 8, 2015
I have been blessed to receive a review copy of the sequel to Her Mother’s Hope. This is a very personal story for Francine Rivers. She says, “I wanted to explore what caused the rift between my grandma and my mom during the last years of my grandmother's life. Was it a simple misunderstanding or something deeper that had grown over the years? Many of the events of this story were inspired by my family history that I researched and events I read about in my mother’s journals or experienced in my own life. You may have guessed that Carolyn is my alter ego…but only some of my life is interwoven through hers…”
Her Daughters Dream covers a time span starting at 1951 and is brought to 2010. The author describes events in the history of the world, how this family and others responded to Kennedy’s assassination, the Vietnam War, Woodstock, Hippies/Free Love, September 11th and others.
The first part of this story is told through Hildemara Rose’s point of view. She’s very sick and needs to ask the help of a person who’s hurt her deeply - her mother, Oma Marta.
Francine Rivers quickly changes to Carolyn’s point of view, Hildemara’s daughter, for the majority of the book. Carolyn is a very studious child and is eager to please her parents. Her brother, Charlie,is the polar opposite of her. Carolyn’s life is forever changed by the relationship developed between Oma Marta and Hildemara, when Hildie was sick.
Carolyn does all the right things in school and learns how to blend in. But, things changed in high school with Charlie now attending the same school. He becomes protective of her and Carolyn has to learn new rules and how to melt into this new crowd.
1968 hits and Carolyn is at Berkley University gathering signatures to help protest the war in Vietnam. Carolyn’s world was changing quickly. Nothing made sense. She didn’t fit in anywhere. She didn’t know what to believe anymore. Where was God in all this war and killing?
“God? They’d all been saying God didn’t care or God was dead. When had faith ever been enough?”
Not in Carolyn’s life anyway. Carolyn’s parents, Hildemara Rose and Trip’s world wasn’t the same either- they were both in pursuit of the American dream. They gave their best to the job, there was little time left for family and friends.
Then one day Carolyn hears from Jesus and he’s told her what to do, “She just didn’t think she could do it.”
Her grandma Oma said, “Nothing is easy Carolyn. Life isn’t easy. We do the best we can with what God gives us.”
“But I’ve made a complete mess of everything Oma.”
“It’s not about what you’ve done. It’s about what you’re going to do now...You lived through it. You’re a survivor. The past doesn’t have any power over you anymore…it only has the power you give it.”
Francine Rivers does an incredible job of allowing the reader to get in the skin of each of her characters. I was quickly drawn into their situation and could feel their pain. It was amazing to see the events of our world affect one family and the people around them.
My heart broke for the women in this story and how misunderstandings and the fear of confrontation caused them to be in so much pain when in each others presence. Francine Rivers’ story helped me look at my family and how we weathered events in history and how it shaped and molded us as a family unit and as a country. It showed me that God has plans for us even in the middle of the storm; He wants us to cling to Him and have faith.
I loved Carolyn’s favorite prayer, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can’t change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done.” This is easier prayed than done, but so true.
A Daughters Dream is an tremendously moving story of a families struggle to overcome misunderstandings of the past, trust God to help them forgive one another and heal the hurts and have faith to carry them through. Francine Rivers is a master wordsmith bringing God, faith and family together in such an incredibly moving way. This story is personal for Francine and she describes how the characters and the story parallel her personal life and struggles. Get your tissues ready as you read, I found my self weeping at the end for the sadness and joy of one family where God made a tremendous difference. This book is a keeper and one this reader will not soon forget. Either will you!
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
Her Daughters Dream covers a time span starting at 1951 and is brought to 2010. The author describes events in the history of the world, how this family and others responded to Kennedy’s assassination, the Vietnam War, Woodstock, Hippies/Free Love, September 11th and others.
The first part of this story is told through Hildemara Rose’s point of view. She’s very sick and needs to ask the help of a person who’s hurt her deeply - her mother, Oma Marta.
Francine Rivers quickly changes to Carolyn’s point of view, Hildemara’s daughter, for the majority of the book. Carolyn is a very studious child and is eager to please her parents. Her brother, Charlie,is the polar opposite of her. Carolyn’s life is forever changed by the relationship developed between Oma Marta and Hildemara, when Hildie was sick.
Carolyn does all the right things in school and learns how to blend in. But, things changed in high school with Charlie now attending the same school. He becomes protective of her and Carolyn has to learn new rules and how to melt into this new crowd.
1968 hits and Carolyn is at Berkley University gathering signatures to help protest the war in Vietnam. Carolyn’s world was changing quickly. Nothing made sense. She didn’t fit in anywhere. She didn’t know what to believe anymore. Where was God in all this war and killing?
“God? They’d all been saying God didn’t care or God was dead. When had faith ever been enough?”
Not in Carolyn’s life anyway. Carolyn’s parents, Hildemara Rose and Trip’s world wasn’t the same either- they were both in pursuit of the American dream. They gave their best to the job, there was little time left for family and friends.
Then one day Carolyn hears from Jesus and he’s told her what to do, “She just didn’t think she could do it.”
Her grandma Oma said, “Nothing is easy Carolyn. Life isn’t easy. We do the best we can with what God gives us.”
“But I’ve made a complete mess of everything Oma.”
“It’s not about what you’ve done. It’s about what you’re going to do now...You lived through it. You’re a survivor. The past doesn’t have any power over you anymore…it only has the power you give it.”
Francine Rivers does an incredible job of allowing the reader to get in the skin of each of her characters. I was quickly drawn into their situation and could feel their pain. It was amazing to see the events of our world affect one family and the people around them.
My heart broke for the women in this story and how misunderstandings and the fear of confrontation caused them to be in so much pain when in each others presence. Francine Rivers’ story helped me look at my family and how we weathered events in history and how it shaped and molded us as a family unit and as a country. It showed me that God has plans for us even in the middle of the storm; He wants us to cling to Him and have faith.
I loved Carolyn’s favorite prayer, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can’t change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done.” This is easier prayed than done, but so true.
A Daughters Dream is an tremendously moving story of a families struggle to overcome misunderstandings of the past, trust God to help them forgive one another and heal the hurts and have faith to carry them through. Francine Rivers is a master wordsmith bringing God, faith and family together in such an incredibly moving way. This story is personal for Francine and she describes how the characters and the story parallel her personal life and struggles. Get your tissues ready as you read, I found my self weeping at the end for the sadness and joy of one family where God made a tremendous difference. This book is a keeper and one this reader will not soon forget. Either will you!
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
July 5, 2011
Her Daughter’s Dream
continues the fascinating character study Francine Rivers began in Her Mother’s Hope. This book covers the lives of Marta’s daughter and granddaughters. The characters seemed so real to me and the hurts they inflicted upon each other so damaging that, again, I found this book difficult to read yet impossible to put down.
Spanning from the 1950s to present day, this book tells the story of Hildemara’s battle with tuberculosis. Because of her illness, her daughter Carolyn forms a special bond with Grandmother Marta. When Hildemara returns to work and Marta leaves, Carolyn is neglected and tries several destructive paths before returning home to her mother. We see the past repeated as Carolyn’s daughter Dawn forms a strong bond, not with her mother, but with Grandmother Hildemara. Finally, as Dawn struggles to avoid the examples of those who have gone before her, she finds a way to bridge the gap between the women in her family. After so long a time coming, redemption of the family history is sweet!
I can’t say enough about Francine Rivers’s ability to sweep me away into a story, particularly this story of four generations of women. Her Daughter’s Dream reminded me of a biblical saga, where folks make surprising decisions and choices that somehow are completely within their characters. In this volume, I could better relate to the inner conflicts the characters faced, and I rejoiced to see softer sides of Marta and Hildemara.
Upon finishing this story, I was left thinking, How do we ever find peace in our family relationships when we are so quick to judge, control, and manipulate each other? As this book shows, the answer can only be found in Christ. And sometimes, even when we find the answer, it is too late to regain the many wasted years. Thank God this world is just a stepping stone to eternity. Believers can rest assured that no matter how they’ve treated their loved ones, in Heaven all tears shall be wiped away, and we all shall each receive a fresh start.
I reviewed Her Daughter’s Dream as part of the Tyndale Summer Reading Program.
Spanning from the 1950s to present day, this book tells the story of Hildemara’s battle with tuberculosis. Because of her illness, her daughter Carolyn forms a special bond with Grandmother Marta. When Hildemara returns to work and Marta leaves, Carolyn is neglected and tries several destructive paths before returning home to her mother. We see the past repeated as Carolyn’s daughter Dawn forms a strong bond, not with her mother, but with Grandmother Hildemara. Finally, as Dawn struggles to avoid the examples of those who have gone before her, she finds a way to bridge the gap between the women in her family. After so long a time coming, redemption of the family history is sweet!
I can’t say enough about Francine Rivers’s ability to sweep me away into a story, particularly this story of four generations of women. Her Daughter’s Dream reminded me of a biblical saga, where folks make surprising decisions and choices that somehow are completely within their characters. In this volume, I could better relate to the inner conflicts the characters faced, and I rejoiced to see softer sides of Marta and Hildemara.
Upon finishing this story, I was left thinking, How do we ever find peace in our family relationships when we are so quick to judge, control, and manipulate each other? As this book shows, the answer can only be found in Christ. And sometimes, even when we find the answer, it is too late to regain the many wasted years. Thank God this world is just a stepping stone to eternity. Believers can rest assured that no matter how they’ve treated their loved ones, in Heaven all tears shall be wiped away, and we all shall each receive a fresh start.
I reviewed Her Daughter’s Dream as part of the Tyndale Summer Reading Program.
November 28, 2010
I enjoyed this, although not as much as Her Mother's Hope. At times I just felt too annoyed and frustrated by all the conflict that could just be so simply resolved if these women just opened up and said what they were feeling instead of bottling it all up and letting it fester! The women in my family are very much the sort to tell each other immediately and bluntly if they have a problem with something, so I couldn't relate to all the secrecy and repression and found it exasperating, even though in theory I understood why they were all like that.
I also felt a bit confused at times because of the four... no, FIVE generations of women involved, especially near the end where it often switched between Dawn and Carolyn's viewpoints and Carolyn would be talking about 'Mom' (meaning Hildemara) and Dawn would be talking about 'Mom' (meaning Carolyn) and I wished everyone could've just used first names. An omniscient narrator viewpoint would've helped.
I found Dawn's life quite convincing and thought her relationship with Jason and her parents, her thoughts and her relationship with God were all very realistically portrayed. But the bits about Carolyn's 'wild' phase in the sixties experimenting with drink and drugs etc felt rather vague and cliched -- maybe F.Rivers was just toning it down for her Christian audience? Anyway, it didn't seem genuine to me.
I also felt a bit confused at times because of the four... no, FIVE generations of women involved, especially near the end where it often switched between Dawn and Carolyn's viewpoints and Carolyn would be talking about 'Mom' (meaning Hildemara) and Dawn would be talking about 'Mom' (meaning Carolyn) and I wished everyone could've just used first names. An omniscient narrator viewpoint would've helped.
I found Dawn's life quite convincing and thought her relationship with Jason and her parents, her thoughts and her relationship with God were all very realistically portrayed. But the bits about Carolyn's 'wild' phase in the sixties experimenting with drink and drugs etc felt rather vague and cliched -- maybe F.Rivers was just toning it down for her Christian audience? Anyway, it didn't seem genuine to me.
December 31, 2011
“Love one another, Jesus said. Sometimes it took a lifetime to learn how. Sometimes it took hitting rock bottom to make someone reach up and grasp hold and be lifted from the mire to stand on a firm foundation.”
In the conclusion of Francine Rivers Marta’s Legacy Series we continue to learn about Oma, Hildemara Rose her daughter Carolyn and daughter May Flower Rose. Rivers continues to weave a story that links you to the characters but also teaches you lessons about your everyday life. Every family has the traits they pass from each generation to the next, sometimes unknowingly and sometimes we choose to pretend to not see what is happening.
Rivers tackles these things head on, showing that through generations families can remain disconnected but it does not have to stay that way. Relying on Jesus, we need to let go of our pride and conquer those things head on. The things that tear a family a part do not need to be passed down but repaired, with Jesus there is no reason to let the hurts and pains of one generation to continue on to the next.
Francine Rivers has created a story of redemption and forgiveness we can all learn from. This book will not only captivate your attention but encourage you to open the line of communication with your entire family.
In the conclusion of Francine Rivers Marta’s Legacy Series we continue to learn about Oma, Hildemara Rose her daughter Carolyn and daughter May Flower Rose. Rivers continues to weave a story that links you to the characters but also teaches you lessons about your everyday life. Every family has the traits they pass from each generation to the next, sometimes unknowingly and sometimes we choose to pretend to not see what is happening.
Rivers tackles these things head on, showing that through generations families can remain disconnected but it does not have to stay that way. Relying on Jesus, we need to let go of our pride and conquer those things head on. The things that tear a family a part do not need to be passed down but repaired, with Jesus there is no reason to let the hurts and pains of one generation to continue on to the next.
Francine Rivers has created a story of redemption and forgiveness we can all learn from. This book will not only captivate your attention but encourage you to open the line of communication with your entire family.
March 24, 2023
ALMOST 5 STARS!? WHAAAAAAT?! Come on, ppl, just because FR is the most successful Christian author around does not entitle her to such high ratings just for publishing another one....
Well...
Traumas handed down for generations like a granny-square afghan manifest as broken relationships and never-reconciled misunderstandings. This was depressing. Nothing resolved until the last chapter after several of the characters in the series had died, and at that, the resolution was perfectly cleaned up with big loopy brushstrokes and a little lemon scent.
IDK it's just that, as a mom of a 13 year old daughter, it left wondering how am i traumatizing her without knowing it? It was a little (a LOT) heavy on the Mother's Fault mentality as each small daughter was somehow beat down by a mother who was doing what she thought was best but was inadvertently demonstrating to her child that she was unloved and unlovable, unwanted and unwantable. Each daughter a victim of the mother.
Not uplifting. In fact, quite the opposite.
Well...
Traumas handed down for generations like a granny-square afghan manifest as broken relationships and never-reconciled misunderstandings. This was depressing. Nothing resolved until the last chapter after several of the characters in the series had died, and at that, the resolution was perfectly cleaned up with big loopy brushstrokes and a little lemon scent.
IDK it's just that, as a mom of a 13 year old daughter, it left wondering how am i traumatizing her without knowing it? It was a little (a LOT) heavy on the Mother's Fault mentality as each small daughter was somehow beat down by a mother who was doing what she thought was best but was inadvertently demonstrating to her child that she was unloved and unlovable, unwanted and unwantable. Each daughter a victim of the mother.
Not uplifting. In fact, quite the opposite.
October 28, 2024
4.4 ⭐️ Spoiler review
-
I really hate it when authors kill characters unnecessarily.
I struggled with the book for a bit, then began to sink into it and love it, only for Dawn’s death at the ending to almost ruin everything. What reason did Dawn have to die? So that Hildie and Caroline could have a do-over relationship with Dawn’s child? There should be a strong reason behind major character’s deaths and there wasn’t for Dawn. She could’ve and should’ve lived! It just seemed very unnecessary and annoying.
For the story, it was a rollercoaster. The book heavily surrounds the miscommunication trope; although I find it hard to call it a ‘trope’ since it all flowed naturally and felt realistic. The characters are flawed, but still people you root for. Marta, Hildie, Caroline, Dawn… it was really nice following this four generation of women and learning how we can repeat our parents mistakes even unknowingly. It’s a lot of food for thought.
I didn’t like who Hildie became in this book so I’ll stick to my memory of her in the last book; sweet and gentle and hardworking. I was mad at Marta for treating Hildie as she had in book 1, but I came to love Marta again in this book. She was a true Matriarch!
Caroline’s character didn’t feel as strong to me. At first, I struggled to get a grip on her as a young girl/teen. Although I absolutely loved that scene of her taking a flower to make her mommy feel better. Then she just seemed to float around without being truly grounded. When Mitch came into the story and married her, he absolutely stole the show! He was an amazing partner and fantastic stepdad. I think he was even better than Niclas, and that’s not easy to say because I adore Niclas!!! Okay no, I’ll just say he was almost as great as Niclas. I also struggled to place a finger on Mitch for a while when he was first introduced, but then he kinda became a pillar for the entire family.
After their marriage I got vexed with Caroline. She didn’t show her affections for her daughter, yet would act hurt when Hildie and Dawn bonded. It was worse when Dawn began to make the effort to know her, began to openly express herself, and Caroline acted distant. Then, she’d seem hurt when Hildie wanted to spend time with Dawn. It just didn’t make sense. She openly loved Christopher. She knew what it meant not to have your mother’s love, yet she somehow kept Dawn at arms length and blamed her mother for their gap.
Till the end, I didn’t feel like Caroline’s character was very strong. And it’s funny the author said Caroline is inspired by her—maybe in a bid to write Caroline as blameless she ended up not giving her much substance.
(I also would’ve preferred not to read the author note and know Caroline was inspired by the author and Mitch by her husband! It almost seemed like she subconsciously wrote the two to be perfect-ish, unlike the other flawed characters, because they’re meant to be her and her husband.)
May Flower Dawn was a very refreshing addition to the family tree!!! I really admire the author’s character work with the women! At some point when Hildie became more assertive like Marta, I began to fear the women would all read like the same person with so many storylines being introduced. But they were very distinct. Dawn was the most outspoken and expressive of all of them, and I just adored her. I also reallllyyyy loved she and Jason’s romance. Like I kept thinking about and rereading a certain scene because of all the angst and pain and love in it. I loved Jason’s introduction, so unique, and his charisma. But I didn’t like him that much after they got back together years later, he started to seem more like Trip and I just think his godliness and tenderness slipped from the page a bit.
While the women were beautifully characterized, however, I thought Bernhardt, Charlie, and Jason could be the exact same person. Even Christopher could feel like a carbon copy of them. All blonde and popular and without social problems etc. The author seems to recurringly have a mindset that male sons have it better in life while girls struggle more. This might be from her experience, but it’s definitely a notable bias. She also seems to think blonde hair and blue eyes are the mark of beauty. Over and again, her beautiful characters are described this way. And others are called brown-haired, then plain-faced.
I didn’t like Trip in this book—in book 1 I wasn’t so sure about him even though I wanted to like him—and the author absolutely butchered him here with how aggressive and mean he got. I didn’t like him hitting and threatening little Caroline. I frankly didn’t care when he died. I wish Hildie had a better partner, but at least in the book she was written to love him.
There was fantastic humor in both books. I loved the writing of letters. It just had this feel I can’t explain and now I’m inspired to write a letter-y book. I loved the walk through history up to present day. I loved how the women all existed in different eras and yet the author wrote it all so well!
It was a rollercoaster of a read. This is also likely the longest book I read this year. Very gripping, drawing different kinds of emotions! (More thoughts on my updates!)
-
I really hate it when authors kill characters unnecessarily.
I struggled with the book for a bit, then began to sink into it and love it, only for Dawn’s death at the ending to almost ruin everything. What reason did Dawn have to die? So that Hildie and Caroline could have a do-over relationship with Dawn’s child? There should be a strong reason behind major character’s deaths and there wasn’t for Dawn. She could’ve and should’ve lived! It just seemed very unnecessary and annoying.
For the story, it was a rollercoaster. The book heavily surrounds the miscommunication trope; although I find it hard to call it a ‘trope’ since it all flowed naturally and felt realistic. The characters are flawed, but still people you root for. Marta, Hildie, Caroline, Dawn… it was really nice following this four generation of women and learning how we can repeat our parents mistakes even unknowingly. It’s a lot of food for thought.
I didn’t like who Hildie became in this book so I’ll stick to my memory of her in the last book; sweet and gentle and hardworking. I was mad at Marta for treating Hildie as she had in book 1, but I came to love Marta again in this book. She was a true Matriarch!
Caroline’s character didn’t feel as strong to me. At first, I struggled to get a grip on her as a young girl/teen. Although I absolutely loved that scene of her taking a flower to make her mommy feel better. Then she just seemed to float around without being truly grounded. When Mitch came into the story and married her, he absolutely stole the show! He was an amazing partner and fantastic stepdad. I think he was even better than Niclas, and that’s not easy to say because I adore Niclas!!! Okay no, I’ll just say he was almost as great as Niclas. I also struggled to place a finger on Mitch for a while when he was first introduced, but then he kinda became a pillar for the entire family.
After their marriage I got vexed with Caroline. She didn’t show her affections for her daughter, yet would act hurt when Hildie and Dawn bonded. It was worse when Dawn began to make the effort to know her, began to openly express herself, and Caroline acted distant. Then, she’d seem hurt when Hildie wanted to spend time with Dawn. It just didn’t make sense. She openly loved Christopher. She knew what it meant not to have your mother’s love, yet she somehow kept Dawn at arms length and blamed her mother for their gap.
Till the end, I didn’t feel like Caroline’s character was very strong. And it’s funny the author said Caroline is inspired by her—maybe in a bid to write Caroline as blameless she ended up not giving her much substance.
(I also would’ve preferred not to read the author note and know Caroline was inspired by the author and Mitch by her husband! It almost seemed like she subconsciously wrote the two to be perfect-ish, unlike the other flawed characters, because they’re meant to be her and her husband.)
May Flower Dawn was a very refreshing addition to the family tree!!! I really admire the author’s character work with the women! At some point when Hildie became more assertive like Marta, I began to fear the women would all read like the same person with so many storylines being introduced. But they were very distinct. Dawn was the most outspoken and expressive of all of them, and I just adored her. I also reallllyyyy loved she and Jason’s romance. Like I kept thinking about and rereading a certain scene because of all the angst and pain and love in it. I loved Jason’s introduction, so unique, and his charisma. But I didn’t like him that much after they got back together years later, he started to seem more like Trip and I just think his godliness and tenderness slipped from the page a bit.
While the women were beautifully characterized, however, I thought Bernhardt, Charlie, and Jason could be the exact same person. Even Christopher could feel like a carbon copy of them. All blonde and popular and without social problems etc. The author seems to recurringly have a mindset that male sons have it better in life while girls struggle more. This might be from her experience, but it’s definitely a notable bias. She also seems to think blonde hair and blue eyes are the mark of beauty. Over and again, her beautiful characters are described this way. And others are called brown-haired, then plain-faced.
I didn’t like Trip in this book—in book 1 I wasn’t so sure about him even though I wanted to like him—and the author absolutely butchered him here with how aggressive and mean he got. I didn’t like him hitting and threatening little Caroline. I frankly didn’t care when he died. I wish Hildie had a better partner, but at least in the book she was written to love him.
There was fantastic humor in both books. I loved the writing of letters. It just had this feel I can’t explain and now I’m inspired to write a letter-y book. I loved the walk through history up to present day. I loved how the women all existed in different eras and yet the author wrote it all so well!
It was a rollercoaster of a read. This is also likely the longest book I read this year. Very gripping, drawing different kinds of emotions! (More thoughts on my updates!)
February 1, 2024
Well, I 'just one more chapter'ed this book all through the night. That ending...wow. It was heartbreaking, bittersweet, hopeful. You get the idea.
I will say that the first 60-70% of the book was quite dark. Everything that could go wrong seemed to go wrong and I was losing hope in the book. Rivers got quite heavy-handed with a particular topic, and I didn't like that. Not because I disagree with what she was saying, but just because it was too much foreshadowing. I felt like I was being hit over the head with it.
And then the climax of the book happened. The women were finally locked up together without being able to leave and they addressed their issues. It was emotional and sad and healing. There were generations of women who all had dysfunctional relationships with each other that needed to be mended. I also liked that Marta's secrets came out even though she was gone.
AND THAT ENDING. That is literally all I can say without spoiling anything, but yeah, if you know, you know.
4 Stars
Content: As with all of Francine's books, I recommend for 18+.
I will say that the first 60-70% of the book was quite dark. Everything that could go wrong seemed to go wrong and I was losing hope in the book. Rivers got quite heavy-handed with a particular topic, and I didn't like that. Not because I disagree with what she was saying, but just because it was too much foreshadowing. I felt like I was being hit over the head with it.
And then the climax of the book happened. The women were finally locked up together without being able to leave and they addressed their issues. It was emotional and sad and healing. There were generations of women who all had dysfunctional relationships with each other that needed to be mended. I also liked that Marta's secrets came out even though she was gone.
AND THAT ENDING. That is literally all I can say without spoiling anything, but yeah, if you know, you know.
4 Stars
Content: As with all of Francine's books, I recommend for 18+.
March 25, 2017
Wow. This book really was a intricately woven story.... that held SO much. It grabbed me and had me aching, angry, and grounded; it was such a story. I loved seeing the pictures and history tidbits from Francine Rivers', as well!
July 6, 2024
I love a redemption story and this did not disappoint.
There were so many walls between mothers and daughters.
Only God can restore hope and relationships!!
There were so many walls between mothers and daughters.
Only God can restore hope and relationships!!
March 7, 2024
Vaak vind ik een vervolg in een serie minder dan het voorgaande deel. Bij dit tweeluik is het andersom. Dit boek blijkt een waardig en diepgaand vervolg op het eerste deel.
Waar pijn verzoening wordt en leven en dood op een intense manier vervlochten blijken te zijn. Zo goed geschreven dat ik deze familie met hun krachtige, mooie vrouwen bijna ga missen 😉
Waar pijn verzoening wordt en leven en dood op een intense manier vervlochten blijken te zijn. Zo goed geschreven dat ik deze familie met hun krachtige, mooie vrouwen bijna ga missen 😉
July 31, 2024
At this point, I am convinced I should hire Francine Rivers as my therapist. This series was HEALING for me.
April 26, 2013
I am a bit at odds with how I really feel about this book. The very premise of the lack of necessary communication between mother and daughter, the resulting repressed feelings, the lashing out in harmful ways and the overall denial that there is anything essential to confront, became overly redundant for me. In fact, Oma (Marta) reiterated this process herself when she wrote in her journal to the extent that in the effort of one generation to raise the next generation by doing the opposite of what was done before in order to avoid repeating the same mistakes, they end up doing exactly that anyway. For women of four generations, their belief and faith in Christ is what has sustained them through difficult struggles during their lives, yet, each mother is oblivious to notice the emotional pain she is inflicting on her daughter. When this attitude is repeated chapter after chapter, my frustration continually increased and I became more and more apathetic to these principle characters. Additionally, the last quarter of the book seemed to drag on; I sensed the impending need for resolution, but the time it took to get there was almost arduous.
On the other hand, the story did illustrate the challenges that some parishioners experience after making grievous mistakes and no longer feel welcome and accepted among their congregation. It equally presented what long-term emotional affects a traumatic childhood episode can continually trigger throughout adulthood until those feelings are properly addressed and resolved. The novel also shed light into what the lifestyle of a war-protesting, alcohol binging, drug addicting, free loving, Haight-Ashbury communal living for a small group of college drop-outs of the 1960s was like, or at least what glimpses of that lifestyle could be later recalled. This help place other things that I had previously read into a more clear perspective and provided some food for thought.
On the other hand, the story did illustrate the challenges that some parishioners experience after making grievous mistakes and no longer feel welcome and accepted among their congregation. It equally presented what long-term emotional affects a traumatic childhood episode can continually trigger throughout adulthood until those feelings are properly addressed and resolved. The novel also shed light into what the lifestyle of a war-protesting, alcohol binging, drug addicting, free loving, Haight-Ashbury communal living for a small group of college drop-outs of the 1960s was like, or at least what glimpses of that lifestyle could be later recalled. This help place other things that I had previously read into a more clear perspective and provided some food for thought.
June 19, 2011
Her Daughter’s Dream is part two in Marta’s Legacy by Francine Rivers. To fully understand and soak in the story you need to start with part one, Her Mother’s Hope.
Part two picks up where one left off in the early 1950’s. Hilde is suffering for a second time with TB and is in a hospital room quarantined from her family. Her husband Trip calls Oma Marta to come and help them so that Hilde can come home to recover and care for the children. Hilde is surprised that she does. Marta and Carolyn form a close bond while Hilde is recuperating, and the relationship between Hilde and her daughter never grows to be the close bond that she desires.
Years later Carolyn goes to college and soon after her brother Charlie goes to Vietnam. Carolyn drops out of college to protest the war, experiments with the drugs and alcohol of the hippy era. Still close with Marta, but never having felt loved by Carolyn. She turns from the God she once held dear after her brother is killed in the war. Carolyn comes home after all her options are exhausted, pregnant with May Flower Dawn. The cycle continues as Carolyn rebuilds her life while Hilde cares for Dawn. The relationship between Grandmother and Granddaughter overtakes the one of mother and daughter.
This saga is rich in historical data and loaded with well rounded, unique characters. A heavy read about the generational sin of pride and secret keeping. Of not reaching out to the ones you love to make sure that they know you love them. I had hoped that this second part of the story would bring some redemption as the first one left me feeling sad and not at all satisfied. I cried at the end of this novel and it truly made me look at my relationship with the women in my life.. thanking God for them.
Part two picks up where one left off in the early 1950’s. Hilde is suffering for a second time with TB and is in a hospital room quarantined from her family. Her husband Trip calls Oma Marta to come and help them so that Hilde can come home to recover and care for the children. Hilde is surprised that she does. Marta and Carolyn form a close bond while Hilde is recuperating, and the relationship between Hilde and her daughter never grows to be the close bond that she desires.
Years later Carolyn goes to college and soon after her brother Charlie goes to Vietnam. Carolyn drops out of college to protest the war, experiments with the drugs and alcohol of the hippy era. Still close with Marta, but never having felt loved by Carolyn. She turns from the God she once held dear after her brother is killed in the war. Carolyn comes home after all her options are exhausted, pregnant with May Flower Dawn. The cycle continues as Carolyn rebuilds her life while Hilde cares for Dawn. The relationship between Grandmother and Granddaughter overtakes the one of mother and daughter.
This saga is rich in historical data and loaded with well rounded, unique characters. A heavy read about the generational sin of pride and secret keeping. Of not reaching out to the ones you love to make sure that they know you love them. I had hoped that this second part of the story would bring some redemption as the first one left me feeling sad and not at all satisfied. I cried at the end of this novel and it truly made me look at my relationship with the women in my life.. thanking God for them.
Read
April 23, 2015The book:
The same mistake Oma made with her daughter HIldie, was repeated again between Hildie and Carolyn, Hildie was never there for Carolyn. The pain Carolyn went through was unbearable but no excuse for the wayward life, the good thing was that she was able to retrace her steps back, and her parents were there for her to help her make something out of her life. Men like Mitch, do they really exist? Love as real as what was between Jason and Dawn.
Strangely, the Christ within Dawn healed the generation of pains and struggles between mother and daughter.
Favorite Quotes
• All you can is live your life and let Charlie live his, Love people for who they are, pray and leave them in God’s hand.
• You don’t give up just because someone says you can’t do something, sometimes telling someone she can’t, makes her want it all the more
• If you decide for yourself what you want from life, someone will do it for you, and you may not like the result
• Nothing is easy, life isn’t easy, we do the best we can with what God gives us
• It’s easier to put up a wall than build a bridge
• I have live out my mother’s hope and I pray I have given wings to my daughter’s dream
• Love between a man and woman can be a beautiful thing but it’s fragile too. It only takes one mistake to turn life into a tangled mess.
In Marta’s own words “I have lived out my mother’s hope and I pray I have given wings to my daughter’s dream.
Question: she did live out her mother’s hope but what exactly was the Hildemara’s dream, and did she really give wings to Hildemara dreams, because she wasn’t In support of Hildemara’s career choice
My favorite Character: Carolyn, only because she rose out of the mess she had made of her own life.
The same mistake Oma made with her daughter HIldie, was repeated again between Hildie and Carolyn, Hildie was never there for Carolyn. The pain Carolyn went through was unbearable but no excuse for the wayward life, the good thing was that she was able to retrace her steps back, and her parents were there for her to help her make something out of her life. Men like Mitch, do they really exist? Love as real as what was between Jason and Dawn.
Strangely, the Christ within Dawn healed the generation of pains and struggles between mother and daughter.
Favorite Quotes
• All you can is live your life and let Charlie live his, Love people for who they are, pray and leave them in God’s hand.
• You don’t give up just because someone says you can’t do something, sometimes telling someone she can’t, makes her want it all the more
• If you decide for yourself what you want from life, someone will do it for you, and you may not like the result
• Nothing is easy, life isn’t easy, we do the best we can with what God gives us
• It’s easier to put up a wall than build a bridge
• I have live out my mother’s hope and I pray I have given wings to my daughter’s dream
• Love between a man and woman can be a beautiful thing but it’s fragile too. It only takes one mistake to turn life into a tangled mess.
In Marta’s own words “I have lived out my mother’s hope and I pray I have given wings to my daughter’s dream.
Question: she did live out her mother’s hope but what exactly was the Hildemara’s dream, and did she really give wings to Hildemara dreams, because she wasn’t In support of Hildemara’s career choice
My favorite Character: Carolyn, only because she rose out of the mess she had made of her own life.
August 8, 2011
It took four generations for the hurts and anger and bickering between a family of four women to come to an end. "Her Daughter's Dream" continues the story begun in book one, Her Mother's Hope and they should be read one right after the other. Which is what I did.
There are so many character struggles in this book. So much heartache, so much learning to be done and through it all I did find myself a bit indifferent. But there were many moments though the book that tugged at my emotions. Both joyful and sad, this books takes the reader through the ringer.
Dawn was definately my favorite character. She didn't bow to the mistakes her previous generations had made, though she definately made plenty of her own, but she wanted to change and yearned to change. It made all the difference.
But the ending is why I gave the book 3 stars. I don't want to give it away, but I didn't like how it was tied up. I was heartbroken in the end and though it was tied up neatly and I wasn't "upset", I was very disappointed in the ending.
However, this review is just my opinion and I know many other readers have loved the book.
There are so many character struggles in this book. So much heartache, so much learning to be done and through it all I did find myself a bit indifferent. But there were many moments though the book that tugged at my emotions. Both joyful and sad, this books takes the reader through the ringer.
Dawn was definately my favorite character. She didn't bow to the mistakes her previous generations had made, though she definately made plenty of her own, but she wanted to change and yearned to change. It made all the difference.
But the ending is why I gave the book 3 stars. I don't want to give it away, but I didn't like how it was tied up. I was heartbroken in the end and though it was tied up neatly and I wasn't "upset", I was very disappointed in the ending.
However, this review is just my opinion and I know many other readers have loved the book.
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