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At Leap Of Faith Farm: A Memoir For Animal Lovers
Not yet published
Expected 29 Jul 26A leap from suburbia to farm life reveals love, loss, and resilience through twenty years of animals, harsh winters, and the unforgettable lessons they leave behind.
At Leap of Faith Farm is a tender, clear-eyed memoir about saying yes to the life you’ve always imagined—and discovering what that choice truly asks of you.
When an unexpected job offer opens the door to a lifelong dream, the author and her husband leave behind their suburban Twin Cities careers for a small horse farm in southern Minnesota. What follows is a twenty-year leap into a world of hard winters, unpredictable land, close-knit neighbors, and the daily, often demanding realities of animal care.
Told through interwoven stories and poems, the book chronicles the cats, horses, wildlife, and winged visitors who shape life on the farm. Each animal arrives with its own personality, challenges, and lessons—many of them learned in the barn through veterinary visits, and after long drives for emergency care. With honesty and grace, the author reveals the emotional and physical labor behind the pastoral dream, from joyful beginnings to inevitable, heartbreaking goodbyes.
Rich with vivid descriptions of Minnesota seasons, rural community, and the intimate bond between humans and animals, At Leap of Faith Farm is both an escape from modern chaos and a grounded meditation on responsibility, love, and remembrance. Above all, it is a promise to tell the stories of those who gave so much, and to ensure they are never forgotten.
At Leap of Faith Farm is a tender, clear-eyed memoir about saying yes to the life you’ve always imagined—and discovering what that choice truly asks of you.
When an unexpected job offer opens the door to a lifelong dream, the author and her husband leave behind their suburban Twin Cities careers for a small horse farm in southern Minnesota. What follows is a twenty-year leap into a world of hard winters, unpredictable land, close-knit neighbors, and the daily, often demanding realities of animal care.
Told through interwoven stories and poems, the book chronicles the cats, horses, wildlife, and winged visitors who shape life on the farm. Each animal arrives with its own personality, challenges, and lessons—many of them learned in the barn through veterinary visits, and after long drives for emergency care. With honesty and grace, the author reveals the emotional and physical labor behind the pastoral dream, from joyful beginnings to inevitable, heartbreaking goodbyes.
Rich with vivid descriptions of Minnesota seasons, rural community, and the intimate bond between humans and animals, At Leap of Faith Farm is both an escape from modern chaos and a grounded meditation on responsibility, love, and remembrance. Above all, it is a promise to tell the stories of those who gave so much, and to ensure they are never forgotten.
- GenresNonfictionAnimals
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 29, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This poignant and candid memoir chronicles Cheryl Suzanne Heide’s brave transition from suburban ease to the authentic, fulfilling challenges of farm life. Embracing risk over routine, Heide and her husband pursue a long cherished dream, establishing a haven for animals in southern Minnesota.
With warmth, humor, and hard earned wisdom, Ms Heide recounts two decades of victories and sorrows, the delight of newborn foals and rescued cats, the relentless demands of severe winters, the profound connections with the animals she nurtures, and the inevitable sorrow of loving them so deeply. Through every muddy task, midnight crisis, and serene moment of connection, she uncovers the true cost and unparalleled beauty of embracing the life she always envisioned.
Crafted for fellow animal enthusiasts and dreamers, this book serves as both an inspiring tribute to rural living and a candid reminder that the most rewarding journeys often require the greatest sacrifices.
**I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
#ARC
#NetGalley
#AtLeapOfFaithFarm
#AnamcaraPressLLC
With warmth, humor, and hard earned wisdom, Ms Heide recounts two decades of victories and sorrows, the delight of newborn foals and rescued cats, the relentless demands of severe winters, the profound connections with the animals she nurtures, and the inevitable sorrow of loving them so deeply. Through every muddy task, midnight crisis, and serene moment of connection, she uncovers the true cost and unparalleled beauty of embracing the life she always envisioned.
Crafted for fellow animal enthusiasts and dreamers, this book serves as both an inspiring tribute to rural living and a candid reminder that the most rewarding journeys often require the greatest sacrifices.
**I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
#ARC
#NetGalley
#AtLeapOfFaithFarm
#AnamcaraPressLLC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Escaping the city and living on a farm sounds wonderful but from this book, shows that it's a lot of work. From the various animals that came and went from the farm, to the all seasons of Minnesota, this book shows the reality of owning a farm. This book is good for any animal lover who wants to live vicariously through these stories.
Escaping the city and living on a farm sounds wonderful but from this book, shows that it's a lot of work. From the various animals that came and went from the farm, to the all seasons of Minnesota, this book shows the reality of owning a farm. This book is good for any animal lover who wants to live vicariously through these stories.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The author and her husband buy a farm where she’ll have room to keep her horses. Although there is a small section of the book about their adaptation to farm life, most of the book is about their adaptation different animals that come to call the farm home over the years. Naturally some parts of the book are sad since animals have much shorter life spans than people but the stories are entertaining and I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys stories about animals.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews