The Setback

B. E. Baker

Aug 2023 · The Birch Creek Ranch Series Book 7 · Purple Puppy Publishing

About this ebook

Amanda Brooks has made a new home for herself in Birch Creek, and she's finally learning to love the right way. But our past always catches up to us, and when her family surprises her with a visit, it slams into her plans like a bowling ball, knocking pins in every direction.

Donna Ellingson has a new job and a fresh resolve to embrace happiness with both hands. But every big change has its difficulties, and she’s not sure whether she made the right choice. It’s hard to move ahead when you keep looking back.

Helen Fisher has never deviated from her life plan. When things go wrong, she handles them, one way or another. When her family in Birch Creek needs a little of her attention, she resolves to deal with it quickly and get right back on track.

Can these three women navigate their respective setbacks and move forward with grace and hope? Or will these life changes alter their futures forever?

KW: Birch Creek Ranch, women's fiction, saga, rachel hanna, pam kelley, jessie newton, romantic women's fiction, family saga, romance books, book club picks, ranch life, widows, love again, later in life romance.

Ratings and reviews

I don't think any individual review could do this whole series justice. I loved every one of them. They pulled my emotions all over the spectrum, laughing one moment and crying the next. Romance isn't the focus, but personal growth comes with romance for all of the women. Women who are put together (Abigail and Helen) and women who are just trying to survive (Donna and Amanda) and then there's the "barely a woman but having to make huge life decisions" (Beth). Watching them ALL grow and change was such a wonderful gift. This is easily one of my favorite series of of the hundreds of books I've read over the past couple years. If you are disappointed it isn't because of the writing, check yourself and read it again😉 What you'll find inside: ♥️ Continued saga, must be read in order ♥️ Clean women's fiction with romance ♥️ 4 points of view ♥️ Large family chaos ♥️ Humor Things I loved: ♥️ Donna's HEA: "Forget a bad boy who rides a Harley or a Casanova who unclasps a bra by glancing at it. I’ve found myself a man who takes horrible days and makes them sunny. That’s what I really needed in my life. And now that’s what I’ll have forever." ♥️ Abigail "if you’ve learned anything about our family yet, you should know that when something seems hard, we just double down and make it harder.”😂😂 ♥️"Crumb Crushers" ♥️ The "Business consultation" ♥️ David almighty Park ♥️ Surprise Thanksgiving guest ♥️ The cherries 😂😂 ♥️“Is it safe for me to release you yet?” ... “Or will you fall back into panic mode?” That’s why I love him. When I’m frantic, he calms me down. ♥️ Dolores Jenkins is such a sweet side character ♥️ Helen's personal growth. "Could doing grunt work really be the key to effectively caring for someone? It seems insane. Crazy enough to be right." ♥️“Now I wake up every day and look for a box that I can tape you into.” ♥️“I’m going to buy that horse and sell him to the glue factory,” ♥️"Small boys are the dumbest members of the entire human population, I’m absolutely convinced." ♥️"Love is messy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not beautiful."

This series has come to feel like catching up with old friends every time I read one! Along those lines, if you haven’t read the first six books, definitely start with the first. This story builds upon itself in a beautiful way but you aren’t likely to enjoy it as much if you jump into the middle of it. The humor is spot on in this book. It’s fast paced. There’s a lot going on but not to the point that it’s difficult to follow. None of the characters are perfect but they are all like-able

FIRST, make sure you have read The Surprise! Go back and find it if you missed it. So, I was not a Helen fan before. Snooty, uptight, rich, fell off her high horse and landed bum-first on a log, etc. Which actually, she DID have a big fall when her ex wouldn’t pitch her million dollar idea to his father and then stole the idea months later. That kind of explains a bit of her intense drive and refusal to rely on anyone else. It turns out the ice queen actually has a heart in there.

About the author

I have animals coming out of my ears. Seven horses. Three dogs, three cats, thirty-ish chickens. I’m always doctoring or playing with an animal… and I wouldn’t want it any other way. But Leo (my palomino) is still my very favorite. 

When I’m not with animals, or even if I am, I’m likely to have at least one of my five kids in tow, two of which I’m currently homeschooling. 

My hubby is the reason all this glorious madness is possible. He’s the best parts of all the amazing men I write (although he’s bald and his six pack sometimes goes into hiding because of cookies.) 

I also love to bake, like to cook, and feel amazing when I find time to kickbox, lift weights, or rollerblade. Oh yeah, and I’m a lawyer, but I try to forget that whenever I can. 

I adore my husband, and I love my God. 

The rest is just details.