This book grabbed me from the beginning. It starts with a chapter each, about three different women, who roomed together in college, and now 25 years later, they are getting ready to go to the Emery House reunion, although all a bit reluctantly. Their lives are very dissimilar, and yet, not so unalike. Each woman is trying to escape her own inner struggles - empty nest, marriage problems, career difficulties... They head off to their college reunion, in hopes of maybe finding themselves and the glue that kept them together - Hope. But Hope has died, and life is now looking even more hopeless. They haven't kept in touch these past 25 years like they should have, and their comradeship is not what it used to be. Each anxious for the weekend to be over, but not sure what they will do next.

Individually, they each decide to take a survival trip to the mountains, not knowing the others will be going too. Can they get along long enough to survive? And yet, have enough "alone" time to figure out their lives?

Not too far in, the story took a totally random twist! I was seriously not expecting that! I could hardly put the book down in anticipation of finding out what was going to happen next. As I got deeper in, the twists kept happening. This is truly a book of survival, not just physical, but spiritual, a survival of the soul. These woman have to learn not only to depend on each other, but to depend on God, and figure out what they are really living for. I thought it was inspirational!

There is just a bit of confusion at times, because the book is written in first person, with each character telling it from her point of view, so it is important to really pay attention to who is speaking at the time. That's probably the only draw back.

I was blessed with a copy of this book courtesy of Kregel Publication. I was not asked or required to review positive and all opinions are my very own.

If We Make it Home kept my attention unlike any book this year. As a woman in my mid 40's I related to the characters and their story lines. The action of the book kept me from sleeping on a long plane middle of the night ride. I hope this author writes more novels soon.

Three women who once were close friends in college have lost touch with each other. Each one has a different reason to get away for awhile and try to regroup. When they find themselves at their old alma mata at the same time, is it fate or Gods plan? It was painful for them to find out that their friend Hope had passed away. That was a turning point for each of them. The author shows how each others lives went in different directions and caused them to lose touch. At one time these four women were like sisters. With only three of them left they make a crazy decision to take a trip into the mountains with a guide.

Glenda was a tough lady who knew she would have her hands full taking the three women hiking into the mountains. I could see her laughing as they had no clue what they were in for. For Vicky, Jenna and Ireland, their lives will never be the same. When a tragic accident occurs the three women must find strength and determination to survive.

Vicky is a very well known Christian speaker who reaches many people across the world with her faith and encouraging words. What if her followers really knew the truth about her life? Behind that fake smile is a very unhappy and insecure woman. I think we can relate to her as she have all tried to be someone who just wanted to be accepted . Is she doing what God has called her to do or has she lost sight of His plan for her?

Jenna is to me a typical loving wife and mother. She is having a hard time being an empty nester. Her husband doesnt understand and she feels like she cant go on. So many of us fall into the trap that we are defined by our family. We forget about ourselves and make sure our children and husband are happy. Along the way, Jenna forgot to live her life and make sure she was happy.



Ireland was my favorite character. After a damaging accusation, Ireland leaves the university she teaches at to get away from the gossip. She feels she needs to reevaluate her life. I could totally relate to her feeling alone in the world. She had a tough childhood and ended up in foster care. The sad thing to me was she was never adopted and that made her feel unwanted.

The story is about these three women who must find a way to survive in the wilderness and get along with each other. The rough terrain they climbed was treacherous and I could feel the pain when they bumped their head, or felll down an embankment . I loved the honesty they shared with each other and the how their lives were not as happy as they have each other to believe. I loved the bickering between them because it showed how much past history they needed to air out between themselves. It is a very emotional and spiritual journey of survival, trust, finding yourself and never giving up. Will they find a way out of the wilderness? Each woman is strong and I loved hearing about their story. The book gives us a glimpse into the lives of three different women who all struggle with self esteem issues. I loved how the author showed each woman in their most vulnerable moments. This is one book that makes you think and will have you take a look at your own life? Are you lost in the wilderness?

I received a copy of this book from Kregel Publications. The review is my own opinion.

If We Make It Home is a book by award-winning new author Christina Suzann Nelson. Many of my friends were reading the book and loving it. So I "gifted" myself the book. Nelson holds readers with her descriptions of the three main characters' adventures, told from each of their points of view. She also does a great job incorporating secondary characters (through the eyes of the main characters) as part of the story. Occasionally I wanted to see what the secondary characters were doing behind the scenes, but we do learn a bit of that at the end of the story.If you like wilderness adventure storie... . If you like stories about friendship... . If you like stories that reflect on how God moves in our lives and encourage you to reflect on God's presence in your own life, you'll enjoy reading If We Make It Home.

If We Make It Home is quite a stark title for a novel that really grabs you and will not let you go. Not only from the harrowing adventure these friends find themselves in the midst of, but also all of the crazy, heavy emotions that comes with each of their stories.

Four college friends all embark on their life's adventure and 25 years later come back for an impromptu reunion when they find out their college sorority house is set to close its doors for good. What three don't know is that Hope, one of the four (the glue that held them together) has passed away. Not only reeling from that shocking news, each of the others is going through life crises of their own.

The narrative is told by each of the surviving friends: Ireland, Victoria, and Jenna. All are heartbreaking and life changing in significant ways and I found myself even relating to a few of their issues. None of them have felt their lives have turned out the way they had hoped and dreamed, and so each of them have different reasons, points to prove, as one by one they all set out on a survival hike/journey for about a week in the Oregon wilderness.

Wow. This was really pretty amazing storytelling, and even though I had to put the book down a few times to collect myself and/or to get over a shocking revelation- I could not keep it put down for long. This would be great on the big screen.

I received a copy of this book for free. I was not required to post a positive review and all the views and opinions are my own.