Emily is new to California, but despite her shy nature she connects with a new group of friends. I loved seeing her relationship with her 10-year-old daughter and the way the women in her life celebrated her.

“With some people, we just have to choose to release them and forgive them seventy times seven, as Todd says. If they’re not going to change, then we have the choice. We can change.”

“Plant what you love, Emily. Plant the sweet things in your new life here. They will grow.” ( )

Robin Jones Gunn is a master at telling beautiful stories of friendship. I have been a long time fan of her Sisterchicks series. Even though I never read her Christy or Sierra series, I enjoyed getting to know them along with three other young women in this new Haven Makers series. This story is told in first person from Emily's perspective. Emily, her husband, and daughter have recently moved to California and Emily is befriended by Christy and her close knit group of friends. What begins is a beautiful tale of faith, friendship, and family.

I look forward to reading the second in the series, Being Known, which is available now.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. ( )

Becoming Us by Robin Jones Gunn is the first in the Haven Makers Series. It follows a small group of 5 women who join in a friendship, some willingly and some with trepidation. I loved the group, however, I felt the worry of one member, Emily. Her small family's future is uncertain, so she feels uncertainty in joining a group of women, who in other circumstances, would fill a void she feels in her life.

This book takes us through challenges that many can relate with. I felt that the characters were created with thoughtfulness and love. This helps to make each one someone that I was eager to get to know. I look forward to reading other books in this series and I highly recommend it.

I was given this book by the publisher but the review is all my own and my honest opinion. ( )

I was thrilled when I first learned about this new series from Robin Jones Gunn. New friends, a new couple, and some familiar faces (namely Christy Miller Spencer and Sierra).

This book deals with so, so many challenges women struggle with today—childrearing, familial relationships, marital relationships, and infertility to name a few—but what sets it apart is the way five women come together, share their burdens, and commit to pray and care for each other.

Though this is the first book in a new series, at times I did feel a bit disconnected or in the dark and am assuming it’s because I haven’t (yet) read the Christy and Todd Baby Years books.

However, I didn’t want my special time with Emily, Trevor, Audra, and the Daughters of Eve to end.
I’m not sure which I am clamoring for more in the next book—more time with Emily and her family or a further peek into Tess’s life.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. ( )

Emily and her husband and daughter have recently relocated to California, and it hasn't gone as well as they had hoped. Their finances are shaky, their apartment is small, and Emily hasn't connected with any women in the area yet. When she's invited to a Christmas get-together, she hesitates to let these women into her heart, and when the conversation turns to topics that are sensitive to Emily, she feels a strong desire to flee. Can she stick with this warm and welcoming group -- or would it be better for their family to return to the east coast?

In this book, Gunn introduces a new main character, but several of her existing characters make an appearance here, particularly Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen. Readers unfamiliar with Gunn's many, many books about Christy can easily follow the plot of this book without fear of missing too much, though it's obvious that this character has a backstory in Gunn's world. I found that this book benefits from better editing than her last trilogy of Christy stories. Readers who enjoy gentle women's fiction in the inspirational genre should find this a pleasant read, and will look forward to more books about these women. ( )