This is the second book in the series and I haven’t read the first one

I am an animal lover – I was reading this book over the cat sat on my keyboard – so it resonated with me, particularly since I went the other way. This is the second book in the series, and settling into the farm, the author has found that issues like stress and anxiety weren’t just from her job. With her marriage struggling they also have to deal with snakes in the duck box, escaping cows, and incubating turkey eggs.

Don’t expect funny animal stories, as this is closer to a journal of events on a working farm. The writing style is matter-of-fact, rather than humourous, and the tales she relates won’t be new to anyone from a rural area. I will say this: I was surprised that she didn’t shoot stray dogs that were on her property, growling at her and a risk to livestock, even from a British point of view. The issue of slaughter is not brought up, although as they raise turkeys it’s a fact of life. Each of the stories is largely stand-alone, so don’t look for an overarching plot, and the marital difficulties are mentioned, then barely touched on, simply resolved by staying together for the livestock. There is a moral at the end of each chapter in the form of a quote called Life Lessons Learned.

As the couple learn, once their livestock selection grows they are tied to the farm and can’t really take time off. There is one simple truth in it though: that escaping to the country won’t get rid of any issue your bring with you.

It’s readable, written in a plain and straight-forward style, well presented and had no noticeable spelling errors.

I’d have given it a three, with a note that anyone considering a country escape should probably read it.