As a first-generation farmer, I enjoyed reading about this young mom and her challenges. I could relate to many of her challenges and hopes. Inspiring!

Rankin had the courage and tenacity to do what most people only dream about. She soldiered on as a single parent and then bought a farm in North Carolina.
The stars of the book are the menagerie of animals that call her farm home. From alpacas to goats Rankin describes each of them in such loving details.
I did wonder what helped support the farm in the early years as it takes a lot of capital to feed animals and build buildings.
I think the farm healed Rankin from many past hurts in her family relationships.

Asolutely loved this book. The story was so realistic that yuo actually felt you lived on the farm You could even feel the cold and rain at cetain times. Amaaing story and an amazing read!

I only saw my first alpaca recently while on vacation so I admit I came to this book hoping for a nice story about raising these cute animals. Though we admire how the author successfully overcame the problems that came her way, “Farm Family” seems to recount mostly the challenges in her personal life and with running the farm. There is no real focus on alpacas . So I found the subtitle and the cover quite misleading. It is quite well-written though. If I ever find myself in her neighbourhood, it would be nice to tour her farm!

3 stars. .

When Lee, who is a cancer survivor, finds herself pregnant but her boyfriend isn’t as committed as she would expect him to be, she decides that she will raise the baby on her own. She has always wanted to be a mother, but after cancer was afraid it wouldn’t happen for her, so she’s not going to let this chance pass her by. Her small town is judge mental of an unmarried pregnant woman so she decides to pick up and move herself to North Carolina where she knows no one and start an Alpaca farm after meeting one at another farm and falling in love. She faces lots of obstacles as she learns to be a farmer, from nature’s challenges to predators and she never gives up. She keeps growing her farm and raising her son.
It was inspiring to see her tackle things head on and even when she was afraid, she didn’t back down. She persisted and persevered when most would have given up. I want to be her when I grow up!
Thanks to Apple Hill Farm Press and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.