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After the unthinkable, how far would you go to find your family?

Lainey, Keith, and Bear have survived a nuclear explosion and a tortuous escape from LA. With no leads as to her family’s whereabouts, Lainey is stymied. The reporter in her craves information; she’s not used to making decisions in the dark.

Without any news, would you still have hope?

When Keith suggests they head to her sister’s intended destination, Lainey agrees despite her gnawing fear. The trek out of California is harder than either of them expect. By the time they reach the border, neither are optimistic about the journey.

Hard choices will be made and lives lost.

Thanks to a lucky encounter in a small, rural town, Lainey finally uncovers the information she’s been seeking. But weeks into the apocalypse, the border with Canada is fraught with danger. It will take all their strength to make it across alive and reunite with the family Lainey is desperate to find.

The attack is only the beginning.

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2019

394 people are currently reading
61 people want to read

About the author

Harley Tate

47 books159 followers
When the world as we know it falls apart, how far will you go to survive?

Harley Tate writes edge-of-your-seat post-apocalyptic fiction exploring what happens when ordinary people are faced with impossible choices.

Subscribe to Harley's newsletter for two exclusive prequels you can't get anywhere else: www.harleytate.com/subscribe

The end of life as we know it brings out the best and worst in all of us. The apocalypse is only the beginning.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
289 (59%)
4 stars
141 (29%)
3 stars
46 (9%)
2 stars
4 (<1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Pam Shelton-Anderson.
1,955 reviews65 followers
January 8, 2020
This last book in both the Western Strength set and the whole Nuclear Survival series was very short but reasonably finished the journey for Lainey and her friends. There were some editing issues (for some reason Marilyn Monroe's name was spelled Marylin several times). My rating is both for the final book and the series overall (where the first three and the last three were the better sets, Midge not being my favorite). It did feel like there was a need to end this on a positive note and it accomplished that. We don't really find out details on who was behind the attack or exactly why, but in this kind of scenario, that info would have been very hard to find. All in all, this has been a good series.
6 reviews1 follower
January 8, 2020
I'm sorry to see another trilogy end

I've now finished this third book in the "Western Strength" trilogy, and I really enjoyed it as I've enjoyed the 17 other Harley Tate books I've read. Now I need to be patient and wait for the next book - I wonder what it will be about.
Profile Image for Cristy Robinson.
72 reviews6 followers
August 11, 2025
great ending to a great series

Make The Cut delivered on its promises for sure. The action didn’t stop, unless to just let you as a reader breathe and maybe sleep. Lainey and Keith navigate the wreckage of the western part of America, meeting a would-be dictator, a small town trying to survive, and regular everyday people terrified and at a stop. I loved the deepening of the characterizations and their relationships all through the action.
Profile Image for Linda Beam.
8 reviews
March 25, 2024
A believable read

I love the books by Harley Tate! She writes about ordinary people. No military types, no former Special Ops or former Navy Seals with all kinds of high tech weapons or unlimited resources. Just ordinary people trying to survive by their own wits. Gives me hope that I could survive the unthinkable too.
Profile Image for Mandy.
305 reviews
July 5, 2025
I really enjoyed the overall series and was happy to see Midge and Lainey reunited, but I was left wondering what had happened to Grant and Leah and had hoped they would pop up in Canada and meet up with Midge so that was a little disappointing, but overall, I really enjoyed the whole series and wish there could have been more.
5 reviews
April 12, 2022
excellent series

This entire series was fun to read and very interesting. You can’t help but to reflect on how we live and how we would respond to an EMP or nuclear attack. What food do I have in my pantry? Where would I go? Lots of food for thought in these books.
327 reviews3 followers
February 9, 2024
better than I thought

I am not into reading books on reporters, but this was great, midge is my favorite sister. Good world building and characters. Hope there is more to find out who the mega manic is and they get their karma. Good series
4 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2020
Awesome

Wonderful wrap to the whole series, would love to read more too it is a quick read but has plenty of depth that leaves me wanting more
Profile Image for David A..
813 reviews
November 5, 2020
Book #3 of the series. All I can say is that I hpoe there will be more books in the Western Strength Series.
2 reviews
October 24, 2023
A Must Read

I’ve read 6 of Harley Rate’s books so far, and ALL have been exciting and informative. Get them! Read them! You will not regret it!
23 reviews
March 12, 2020
Nice read

An interesting post nuclear bomb book and series that was much less negative as many I have read and thus a bit more enjoyable
Profile Image for Jeff.
380 reviews6 followers
February 26, 2020
I really enjoy Harley’s books. I’ve read them all up to this point. They are fast paced & easy reads. For the most part, I like the main characters. The books are for the most part profanity free & absent raunchiness. Thanks for that Harley.
This story was missing something for me. It wasn’t as compelling as some of the others & felt like we were being rushed to the finish line. The ending was satisfying. There were still questions to be answered so I’m for another segment of stories.

SPOILERS:

I do long for a little more depth of character. Things flash by & I wish it was more. Like when they left the family in Denver. Not even a goodbye. Then when Jerry stayed with Irma, I get the reasoning, but it was just so rushed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
476 reviews4 followers
January 31, 2020
Canada Or bust!

What a ride this series has been! I am glad to see that the series finishes with a happy ending and that everyone made it. You do not have to kill off the characters to make a good storyline. I am glad that this author seems to share that train of thought. This book was a a very satisfying conclusion to the series. I highly recommend this author and all her series. Read her books and leave your reviews. Thank you for using Kindle Unlimited.
295 reviews
December 27, 2019
Last book in the trilogy and the series

A little disappointed that there wasn’t more to this book. She could have made it longer or even added a book filled with mystery and intrigue regarding the instigators of the attack on the United States. Because it was alluded to so many times in most of the books I was looking forward to that type of ending.
49 reviews2 followers
December 31, 2019
Great series

I really enjoyed this whole series...northern and western exposure. The story kept moving and the characters were well drawn. The happy ending is a plus...so many things these days are depressing so it was a feel good read.
Profile Image for Smiling_dragon.
92 reviews5 followers
January 20, 2020
Harley could have drawn out the reunion of Lainey and her sister for another book, but smartly she reunited them in typical Harley fashion.

After so many books, it still feels like there is plenty of content left in this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
543 reviews2 followers
February 2, 2020
Great series

I really enjoyed this series.
Unfortunately , my kindle wouldn't let me review books 1and2.
This is an excellent series and I recommend it to anyone who likes apocalyptic tales without all the gore and graphic details.
4,416 reviews28 followers
December 27, 2019
Make the Cut review

Make the Cut is the third post apocalyptic survival book in the Nuclear Survival: Western Strength series written by author Harley Tate.
Profile Image for Charlene.
680 reviews6 followers
December 28, 2019
Loved

I loved this book and the complete series. I loved the characters in all of Harley Tate’s books. I would recommend all of Harley’s books.
238 reviews
January 2, 2020
Good adventure

A good road trip story with nuclear bombs, looters and tinpot dictators. Good characters and a story that keeps reading. Fun series
Profile Image for Erin.
38 reviews2 followers
January 12, 2020
Gave the third book a chance and it was an improvement from the 2nd one. The characters got a little smarter and it isn't quite as depressing as the second one.
237 reviews2 followers
January 16, 2020
Fantastic

I have purchased every single book of this author and am never disappointed. These books are filled with intense action and believable characters
Profile Image for Alisa.
475 reviews6 followers
January 17, 2020
Excellent series

Great conclusion to an excellent series. Harley Tate definitely delivers with this series. The stories are great and each one is unique. A fresh take on SHTF.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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