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The Birch Creek Ranch #6
The Surprise
Romeo and Juliet’s families caused all sorts of problems, but the two lovers took that poison themselves, the idiots.
When Beth Ellingson meets Ethan Brooks, it’s because her aunt and father are conspiring to steal the Birch Creek Ranch from the handsome young man. It wasn’t the cutest way to meet, but just as roses grow best when fertilized with manure, sometimes beauty springs from tragedy.
Beth’s father’s definitely a stinker, and she wants to spare Ethan the misery of affiliating with him. But Ethan’s never been afraid of a fight when the cause is just. Can these two young but beloved Birch Creek characters find their happily ever after? Or will the biggest surprise of their young lives derail all their plans and poison their future?
When Beth Ellingson meets Ethan Brooks, it’s because her aunt and father are conspiring to steal the Birch Creek Ranch from the handsome young man. It wasn’t the cutest way to meet, but just as roses grow best when fertilized with manure, sometimes beauty springs from tragedy.
Beth’s father’s definitely a stinker, and she wants to spare Ethan the misery of affiliating with him. But Ethan’s never been afraid of a fight when the cause is just. Can these two young but beloved Birch Creek characters find their happily ever after? Or will the biggest surprise of their young lives derail all their plans and poison their future?
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2023
155 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
B.E. Baker
47 books163 followersBridget loves her husband (every day) and all five of her kids (most days).
She’s a lawyer but does as little legal work as possible. She has three quarter horse geldings, a Holsteiner (jumping) horse, and she spends too much time riding and not enough time writing. (Or too much time writing and not enough time riding, depending on your perspective!)
B.E. Baker is the romance/women's fiction penname for Bridget E. Baker, who also writes fantasy, end of the world, and dystopian books that add a little magic to the world.
Please sign up for Bridget's fantasy or romance newsletters on her website at www.BridgetEBakerWrites.com or click Follow on her bio above to get notices and updates when she releases new books!
She’s a lawyer but does as little legal work as possible. She has three quarter horse geldings, a Holsteiner (jumping) horse, and she spends too much time riding and not enough time writing. (Or too much time writing and not enough time riding, depending on your perspective!)
B.E. Baker is the romance/women's fiction penname for Bridget E. Baker, who also writes fantasy, end of the world, and dystopian books that add a little magic to the world.
Please sign up for Bridget's fantasy or romance newsletters on her website at www.BridgetEBakerWrites.com or click Follow on her bio above to get notices and updates when she releases new books!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 22, 2023
I have been enjoying this series about two widowed sisters-in-law who move to a rural area of Utah when they receive an inheritance of a ranch. Abigail is a lawyer, a perfectionist, a wonderful mother and a genuinely nice person. She has four children and Ethan, the oldest, is one of the main characters in this book. Amanda is the other one, is a social media influencer and is the harder one to like as she is somewhat selfish and immature. She is a minor part of this book. Beth is the other main character and is a young woman who is being raised by very dysfunctional parents. As she and Ethan get to know each other, both attraction and problems arise.
This was my least favorite book as I am not into teenager drama, insecurity and silliness. Also, this book's timeline did not pick up from the end of the last book but started at almost the beginning of the series and ended at the same time as the last book. I do not recall any profanity and no sex scenes although sex outside of marriage was present as was alcohol abuse.
This was my least favorite book as I am not into teenager drama, insecurity and silliness. Also, this book's timeline did not pick up from the end of the last book but started at almost the beginning of the series and ended at the same time as the last book. I do not recall any profanity and no sex scenes although sex outside of marriage was present as was alcohol abuse.
June 21, 2023
This book was an unexpected addition to the series by the author, and it definitely lived up to its name! Not only was I surprised that there would be an extra book to read in the series, but I was also really surprised by something that happened in this book. This was a deceptively deep story that feels like a fluffy romance in many ways, but there are some real serious dilemmas in this book. I enjoyed the humor that was injected into the story that added a lighter tone to it.
I've liked Ethan's character throughout the series, but none of the books ever focused on him very much. So, it was really nice to read his perspective and see what was really going on with him while everything else was happening. The author pulled this off amazingly well, as the timeline for this book spans several books in the series, giving us key moments from the books, this time from Ethan's and Beth's perspectives, and adds in lots of content between those moments. Some of which, I didn't see coming at all. At first I was sort of reeling from one big surprise, and thinking NO! But then I realized that it made this story even better in some ways. It took the story to a deeper and more serious level.
This series has been flirting with a 5 star rating from me for a while. It's one of my favorite series I've read in the romance genre, and I always end up feeling a lot of things after I finish one of these books. I was thinking about what makes this one a 5 star read over the others that were 4 and 4.5 star reads for me, which is what I rate most of the books I really enjoy. I think the thing that put this book in the 5 star category, was the fact that I didn't see that surprise coming, but also the wonderfully insightful advice Ethan receives from his mom and Steve on the matter. Plus, it had me feeling so emotional as I got to the end. All these books have been about real love, not just that feeling you get when you love someone, but real enduring love that gives and sacrifices and supports, and I felt that even more with this one.
Ethan is a young man that is mature beyond his years, but he didn't just happen that way accidentally. He became that way because of his two wonderful parents, and his own personal choices, and he was a pleasure to read about. I liked how this book showed us the flip-side to that with Beth's parents and how she struggled to feel like she had worth because of her upbringing. But it also showed how you don't have to come from a wonderful, loving home to actually be a wonderful, loving person yourself. Beth was a good example of that. It was interesting to get her perspective on her parents this time around and see some things about them that weren't in the other books.
I'm looking forward to the last book in the series, even though I know after it's done, I'm going to miss these characters so much. I wouldn't be opposed to more surprise books!
Thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader and on Facebook.
I've liked Ethan's character throughout the series, but none of the books ever focused on him very much. So, it was really nice to read his perspective and see what was really going on with him while everything else was happening. The author pulled this off amazingly well, as the timeline for this book spans several books in the series, giving us key moments from the books, this time from Ethan's and Beth's perspectives, and adds in lots of content between those moments. Some of which, I didn't see coming at all. At first I was sort of reeling from one big surprise, and thinking NO! But then I realized that it made this story even better in some ways. It took the story to a deeper and more serious level.
This series has been flirting with a 5 star rating from me for a while. It's one of my favorite series I've read in the romance genre, and I always end up feeling a lot of things after I finish one of these books. I was thinking about what makes this one a 5 star read over the others that were 4 and 4.5 star reads for me, which is what I rate most of the books I really enjoy. I think the thing that put this book in the 5 star category, was the fact that I didn't see that surprise coming, but also the wonderfully insightful advice Ethan receives from his mom and Steve on the matter. Plus, it had me feeling so emotional as I got to the end. All these books have been about real love, not just that feeling you get when you love someone, but real enduring love that gives and sacrifices and supports, and I felt that even more with this one.
Ethan is a young man that is mature beyond his years, but he didn't just happen that way accidentally. He became that way because of his two wonderful parents, and his own personal choices, and he was a pleasure to read about. I liked how this book showed us the flip-side to that with Beth's parents and how she struggled to feel like she had worth because of her upbringing. But it also showed how you don't have to come from a wonderful, loving home to actually be a wonderful, loving person yourself. Beth was a good example of that. It was interesting to get her perspective on her parents this time around and see some things about them that weren't in the other books.
I'm looking forward to the last book in the series, even though I know after it's done, I'm going to miss these characters so much. I wouldn't be opposed to more surprise books!
Thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader and on Facebook.
June 25, 2023
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!
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!
June 18, 2023
The Surprise lives up to its name. That was such a wild ride. But if you haven't read the other books in the series, don't read this one yet, go back and read the others first. I'll wait. Anyway, back to my shell shocked review. Let's just say holy smokes I did not see that twist coming at all. You got me with that one, Baker. I think my jaw dropped and I had to pull myself together for a couple of chapters. I think I'm still in denial a little bit. I just want to hug Beth because wow, she cannot catch a break. And Ethan, we're here for you buddy, you have been thrown the world's biggest curve ball. I don't want to spoil anything so you're just going to have to read it for yourself but you better carve out enough time to finish it all in one sitting because good luck putting this one down.
December 17, 2024
I approached this book a little disappointed. I'd expected to follow the story of another character, Helen, in this sixth book of The Birch Creek Ranch series. This books follows eighteen year old Ethan and eighteen year old Beth and their love story, and it quickly became my favorite of the series so far. Being younger their "stakes" feel a little bit less dramatic and it made for a lighter read. I predicted what the hook might be but the author put a spin on it that I didn't expect so the story line kept me guessing. We also get a bit of a recap of the whole series as we're seeing the events from the first book through the fifth books play out through these young characters' eyes. I can't wait to dive into the next book. I listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed the voices and the production.
June 13, 2023
Such a wonderful surprise. It isn't a surprise that I loved the book, but the book itself was an unexpected edition to the Birch Creek Series. Like most of my children it was unexpected and the perfect addition to the family.
What you'll find inside:
-Continued saga, must be read in order starting with The Bequest.
- coming of age, navigating life at 18ish
- family drama
What I loved:
-Floor sandwiches and floor cake
-Ethan. He's just the sweetest.
-"Friend zone to the end zone"
-“You’re kinda dorky,” Izzy says. “Let’s hope Beth hasn’t noticed.”
-"How often are we our own worst enemy? How often do we stand squarely in the way of our own happiness?" So much truth in this statement.
-Dolores Jenkins
What you'll find inside:
-Continued saga, must be read in order starting with The Bequest.
- coming of age, navigating life at 18ish
- family drama
What I loved:
-Floor sandwiches and floor cake
-Ethan. He's just the sweetest.
-"Friend zone to the end zone"
-“You’re kinda dorky,” Izzy says. “Let’s hope Beth hasn’t noticed.”
-"How often are we our own worst enemy? How often do we stand squarely in the way of our own happiness?" So much truth in this statement.
-Dolores Jenkins
December 30, 2024
I am tickled pink about this book!! I was never expecting this and am over the moon. We’ve seen bits of Ethan and Beth throughout this series, but this is amazing. We go back to their beginning and track through many events that happened in the last 5 books. Obviously we couldn’t have all of the things covered, because that’s a ton! But I loved getting the kids’ perspectives on things and having some things more fleshed out. Some things were really unexpected since they involved Abby but we hadn’t seen those conversations before. This book reads as a romance with the dual perspective but still fully sits in this Women’s fiction saga series. I can’t wait to see what Baker comes up with next! Things are definitely exploding in Manila.
June 28, 2023
This is a book we didn't know we needed until we read it, hence the surprise in the title, the author surprised us, the readers, with book six of the Birch Creek Ranch series, a book who was never "in the books" but one that ties in almost all of the stories in the previous five books of the series.
This is a modern-day Romeo and Juliet kind of story with a happier ending than the Shakespeare tragedy, where two teenagers, Beth and Ethan, find live in each other after a lot or trials and tribulations, especially related to their families but also within themselves.
As a word of advice, you should read the other five books in the series before starting reading this one, since this book brings back a lot of what happened before in the story, tying it to these two young people and influencing their relationship and their actions.
The book and the story end in a cliffhanger with a very hard situation that Beth and Ethan find themselves in the middle of, which I hope book number seven starts with.
I love this series and can't wait to get my hands in the next and last book.
This is a modern-day Romeo and Juliet kind of story with a happier ending than the Shakespeare tragedy, where two teenagers, Beth and Ethan, find live in each other after a lot or trials and tribulations, especially related to their families but also within themselves.
As a word of advice, you should read the other five books in the series before starting reading this one, since this book brings back a lot of what happened before in the story, tying it to these two young people and influencing their relationship and their actions.
The book and the story end in a cliffhanger with a very hard situation that Beth and Ethan find themselves in the middle of, which I hope book number seven starts with.
I love this series and can't wait to get my hands in the next and last book.
June 25, 2023
Surprise and not just in book title but in the story also. The author did surprise us with this story of a modern day Romeo & Juliet, of Ethan & Beth and it is so so good! It’s a story of two opposites attracting, of two people who have been bought up totally different but grow up to be such incredible, compassionate people that despite their differences and families, belong together. Beth thinks she is not worthy whereas Ethan absolutely disagrees. It’s a wonderful deeper read and the author has done an incredible job drawing us back to Birch Creek and best of all, I did not see that surprise coming!
May 2, 2025
Interesting comment fairly close to the beginning. The main character is taking a Psychology course and describes the term 'illusionary truth effect'. Humans are more likely to believe something even if they know it's untrue if they hear it over and over again. The example, even if people know a cow's offspring is a calf, if they are told again and again, it's a colt, they will start to believe it.
We've all witnessed something similar recently, but I was interested to discover there is a term for it.
We've all witnessed something similar recently, but I was interested to discover there is a term for it.
June 18, 2023
Wow, when you read the title and you are surprised at the surprise, that's huge. This book I believe was never part of the series, but it takes us on another path or journey with this family. Of course, things haven't been easy from the beginning and this "surprise" really changes the storyline. And that's a good thing. Interesting also. I look forward for the final book.
I was given an ARC of this book by the author for an honest review.
I was given an ARC of this book by the author for an honest review.
June 20, 2023
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
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 entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2023
I was confused at the start of The Surprise. It seemed to start back at the very beginning of the Birch Creek Series. I found that it moves along through the series and ends towards the end of Reboot, and it ended with a “Surprise!” I certainly hope Bridget carries this storyline into the next book in the Birch Creek Series. I highly recommend. Do make sure you’ve read all the other Birch Creek books (in order) first.
August 20, 2023
I forced my way through this one. It is a portion of the series retold by two of the teens. Same story retold with the main plot from the previous book with lots of the same internal angst and dialog rewritten over and over. Be prepared to skim through parts. It was enough to make me abandon the whole series. Unfortunately, this happens a lot in this genre of series where author squeezes out another book or two to keep the reader buying. I don’t expect fine literature but a good story is nice.
June 1, 2024
It's was good, but I wasn't inspired/elated/enthralled by it. It rehashed all of what went on previously with the other characters and added what went on with Beth and Ethan during the same period of time. This is their story. I do like these characters and the plot was new, sort of/definitely. Not my favorite from this series. It didn't turned me off completely as I'll finish off the series.
December 17, 2024
This is probably my favorite book of this series so far. I was disappointed when I first started reading it because I expected to continue Helen and Donna's stories. But this book shows you the budding, or not so budding at times, romance between eighteen-year-old Ethan and eighteen-year-old Beth. As they're younger characters the stakes don't seem as high and that made this book a lighter listen/read.
August 21, 2023
This is a book that should have been a novela. The plot makes sense and did need to be told to lead into book 7. But, there were points in this book that the plot plodded along and I felt like I was slogging through it.
All that being said, you need to read this book to keep the continuity of the story going.
All that being said, you need to read this book to keep the continuity of the story going.
June 17, 2023
So grateful for this “surprise” addition to this series. This story needed to be told. So many obstacles tried to stop these two main characters from being together from family drama to personal mistakes, but in the end love wins.
June 17, 2023
Cute
I thought I might have trouble getting into the story because the main characters are so young, but it was a nice surprise. I loved seeing things that were happening in the background of the other stories.
June 18, 2023
I enjoyed this new installment of the Birch Creek Ranch books about the younger characters going on in the background of Abigail, Amanda and Donna's stories. I can't wait for the next one, especially as there is still more to this story. I enjoyed Delores' part in this too!
June 23, 2023
I loved being surprised by Beth and Ethan's story! You will want to read the other books in the series first as this book takes place during all of those and will give spoilers if you don't. Gives a greater perspective to the whole story.
June 27, 2023
This was definitely surprise in this series. Great storyline with the younger cast of the series. Can’t wait for the happy ending of Beth and Ethan. I can definitely see more books in the series. Bridget just keep the great storylines coming.
July 3, 2023
Another fantastic addition to this series!
B. E. Baker does it again! It was so great to revisit some of my favorite characters and scenes but from Ethan and Beth’s perspectives. This whole series is phenomenal!
B. E. Baker does it again! It was so great to revisit some of my favorite characters and scenes but from Ethan and Beth’s perspectives. This whole series is phenomenal!
July 30, 2023
a great read
Their series had me from book one. Loved each one and looked forward to the next. Now I have to wait till November for the last one. I was bummed but will wait like every one else. Such a great family series. Would definitely recommend.
Their series had me from book one. Loved each one and looked forward to the next. Now I have to wait till November for the last one. I was bummed but will wait like every one else. Such a great family series. Would definitely recommend.
September 12, 2023
Wow what a story
This book was great to read and I never expected this story in this series yet it was perfect. I just need to loan how it turns out so I have to start the next one now.
This book was great to read and I never expected this story in this series yet it was perfect. I just need to loan how it turns out so I have to start the next one now.
November 14, 2023
Another great book by B.E. Baker. I love how this one is about another couple and the problems they faced. This couple wasn’t really brought up to much in the other books so I really like the fact they they get their own book.
November 29, 2023
wow!
Even though secret baby isn’t my favorite trope, I liked this story! I really loved the main characters and wanted them to succeed! This is a wonderful next book in the Birch Creek Ranch series!
Even though secret baby isn’t my favorite trope, I liked this story! I really loved the main characters and wanted them to succeed! This is a wonderful next book in the Birch Creek Ranch series!
June 17, 2024
Ethans story
In this book by B.E. Baker, we get Beth and Ethans story. I loved this book. We see more of Ethan's thoughts and feelings. We also see more into Beth's family and her parents' marriage. I can't wait to read the next book.
In this book by B.E. Baker, we get Beth and Ethans story. I loved this book. We see more of Ethan's thoughts and feelings. We also see more into Beth's family and her parents' marriage. I can't wait to read the next book.
July 9, 2024
Very easy read! It was interesting reading Beth and Ethan’s perspective and how the moments read at different point of views effected them. Baker did a good job at writing from the young adult point of view.
January 16, 2025
The Surprise is that it is told from Ethan and Beth's POVs. J/k.
Being that i usually read YA and not adult contemp, this one was more interesting to me than the others.
But, I wasn't a fan of the surprise and the turn of events. I'm too much like Abigail.
Being that i usually read YA and not adult contemp, this one was more interesting to me than the others.
But, I wasn't a fan of the surprise and the turn of events. I'm too much like Abigail.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews