The Surprise

Well if this book is not a surprise. According to the ending of Book 5 the next one was going to be called the Setback but then there is Bridget and her love of writing. This is not a standalone; it has to be read as part of the series. So if you are not caught up on all things Birch Creek march yourself back to Book 1 - The Bequest. I promise you will not be disappointed. Unlike the rest in the series this book is not focusing on Amanda, Abigail, and Donna but this is the story of Ethan and Beth but still you won’t get it if you don’t know who Amanda, Abigail, and Donna are. Last warning do not read on if you are not all caught up. Ethan, as the oldest son of Abigail, is used to being around girls and knowing what they are trying to tell him. But with Beth it is different she is not his sister and she is the first cute girl he has met that is close to his age in Birch Creek. So why is Beth so difficult to decipher for him? All Ethan wants is to make Beth his girlfriend but there are lots of obstacles in the world Beth is the niece of Donna. She chose to stay in town when her parents left. Having grown up in a household with a father that ignored the problems her mother had and learning to always make excuses for everything she has a hard time when it comes to understanding her feelings. She has big insecurities and having a ‘hot’ guy like Ethan liking her just doesn’t seem right. Can Beth overcome her hurdles and make the decision that will make her happy? Once more Bridget has blown me away. Not only did she write a surprise book that wasn’t planned but it is written in a way that I could hardly put it down. I was so captivated by the story and the often tough story that I neglected a few chores to get to the end. Now I am waiting anxiously for book 7 to see what else is going to happen in Birch Creek. This book is clean but has a little twist in it with a surprise pregnancy. I promise, you won’t be sad that you ever started your journey to Birch Creek.

B.E. Baker writes novels about families that specialize in acceptance and support. The characters are well rounded and truly come to life. No, they are not perfect and neither is their life but somehow you come away from each of these books wishing that you had a personal relationship with each and every member of the family.

SO many surprises in this lagniappe book! I love Ethan even more, and Beth really gets to be a full character in this story. You do need to read the other books in the series for this one to make the most sense and also to help flesh out the whole Birch Creek Ranch family dynamics. I loved all the little mentions of past events from the previous books and how they transpired from Ethan's or Beth's views. A new quirky character with a kind heart is introduced. More family drama and truth uncovering from the Ellingsons. I loved it, another sweet romance like the author's Finding series, but the tumultuous life of the families in Manila. I loved this line: "Isn't it strange how your feelings about the world you've always known can change when your feelings about yourself and your own value in it shift, just a hair?" Of course there is an extra surprise near the end so eagerly awaiting the final book!

When I found out that Ethan and Beth were getting their own story, I squealed with delight. It was everything I never knew I needed. Do not complete the series without taking this ride!

When the author announced this unexpected book, I was thrilled! First, definitely make sure you’re all caught up with the Birch Creek Ranch books before reading. Now that you’re caught up…Beth and Ethan have needed their own story and this is such a wonderful weaving of the events of the other books but from new perspectives. It’s funny, it’s sad, it’s heartwarming, all the things you’ve come to expect from Birch Creek. Spoiler-y TW: Surprise pregnancy

This book was most definitely a surprise. I follow the author on social media and this book was not planned at all originally (and she plans out her books in advance). She even asked if she should write this side story or move on with The Setback. I voted to move on with the set back so i was surprised (and delighted after reading) to see this book before The Setback. The story of Ethan and Beth was just begging to be written. They are like a modern day Romeo and Juliet. Okay not really but they (the characters) do feel that way at time. Beth doesn’t feel like she deserves to be loved, by Ethan or anyone. She has a hard time accepting that he really does want to be with her. There are definitely some twists and turns I didn’t anticipate (especially since I’ve read the other Birch Creek books and this basically takes place over the course of books 2-5). I hope we find out more about them and their story in The Setback.