The Seeds of Change

I have read almost every book this very prolific author has produced.<br />With very well researched historical books you can feel the authenticity coming through as you flip the pages of each of her books.<br />This is the first book in a new series called Leah's Garden.<br />Larkspur Nielsen is tired of the closed mindedness of her home town in Ohio and after winning at a poker game when it comes down to it she knows she must make her escape.<br />Escape she does with her sisters in tow in the middle of the night and she once again uses the disguise of "Clark Nielsen" accompanying his sisters to Independence, Missouri, to join a wagon train bound for Oregon.<br />We see the hardships they face along the way as they settle in a new territory.<br /><br />Published June 1st 2021 by Bethany House Publishers.<br />I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.<br />All opinions expressed are my own.<br /><br />

I've read a lot of books by Lauraine Snelling (the whole Red River series) but this was the first book of hers that I found a little difficulty in believing. A family of orphans, 2 boys and several girls (named for flowers, I couldn't keep track of them) who knew how to shoot, throw knives well enough to kill a man, and one of whom dresses as a man so convincingly that people are deceived. This girl also is a card shark and manages to outplay a gambler and take away his money. She also denounces the church pastor, who is a weasel in name as well as in character. Due to the danger these shenanigans put the family in, the girls are forced to flee to the West to escape retribution, with the girl/boy double dressing as a man so they are not such a target. The boys stay home - one of them owns a store and is contemplating marriage, and the youngest is a problem child.<br /><br />Another thing I found difficult in this book was the author's tendency to drop backstory hints, about 30 pages apart. At first I thought I'd missed something. Then I wondered if this was the second in a series (no it's the first book). It was just frustrating. <br /><br />However, all that said, I did get interested in the story, and enjoyed reading it. I will definitely be looking for the sequel. I also appreciated the scripture references and hymns scattered throughout.

The Seeds Of Change is a beautiful story of how God can take a bad situation and use it for good. Larkspur "Clark" Nielson is very self-assured and that gets her into trouble. She tries to help out her younger brother and ends up having to become Clark and travel away from all she knows. I loved the strong female characters in this story. And the romance, while not the focus, adds a nice touch. Lauraine Snelling proves once again that she is a master storyteller.<br /><br /><br />So grab a pot of tea and curl up for a fantastic read!<br /><br />I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

The Seeds of Change by Lauraine Snelling is the debut of Leah’s Garden series. I have read all of Lauraine Snelling’s novels and she never fails to disappoint. I thought The Seeds of Change was well-written with developed characters. I could tell Lauraine Snelling did her research. The author captured the time period with the dialogue, clothing, attitudes, conveyances, and so much more. I was transported back in time as the Nielson sisters traveled west looking for a new place to settle. This is an inspiring tale. We get to see what people can accomplish when they put their minds to it and rely on God. The Seeds of Change is a faith filled story. The Nielson sisters as well as the majority of the other characters are Christians who rely on God. They pray for guidance and want to make sure they are following God’s path for their lives. This is also a story about survival. It was not easy to survive in the west. This story has drama, faith, family, joy, sorrow, and romance. The Seeds of Change is an engrossing story that held my attention until the very end. I was sorry to turn the last page. I look forward to reading the next story in Leah’s Garden series. The Seeds of Change is an uplifting, engaging tale that lingered with me longer after I finished it.

I loved this book! The sisterly love was right up my alley, as was the road trip (via covered wagon!). I liked that it was a western featuring orphaned siblings trying to carve out a new life for themselves on the wagon train and beyond. Very entertaining and enjoyable, and I liked the family of siblings. I’m hoping to read more in the series very soon.<br /><br />Content: alcohol, gambling, saloons, tobacco, stillbirth <br />

Lauraine Snelling is a prolific author of historical romance, and she is well suited to the role. She excels at her craft which makes her books a delight to read. In her latest offering, she begins a new series and I cannot wait until the next one to come out. <br /><br />Four sisters and two brothers live in Ohio working in the mercantile and growing gardens with the seeds their mother left behind for them. When the younger brother gambles away their home place, the oldest sister comes to the saloon to win back what he's lost. Larkspur, or Lark as she is called, figures out that the gambler has been cheating. When she calls him out on it, she makes an enemy, just as she had made an enemy of the deacon who had been leading the church since their pastor had met with an unfortunate accident. Fearing for her life, her older brother, Anders, sends her and their sisters to Nebraska to buy a farm and to settle in a new place. The trip to Nebraska is not without its difficulties: Lark masquerading as a man to protect her sisters, children who are suddenly orphaned, one of the sisters becoming ill, and disgruntled wagon train members. The girls take in the children and are befriended by a doctor and his nephew who were on their way to California. The one thing the girls want to do more than anything is to begin to grow and sell flower seeds. All of the girls have been named for various flowering plants and shrubs--Larkspur, Delphinium, Forsythia, and Lilac, and all of the girls are as pretty as their name-sakes. <br /><br />There are twists and turns throughout the book that make it an engaging read. Like I said before, Lauraine excels at weaving a tale and I am sure that in the subsequent books, she will tie up all the loose ends quite well, because the gambler and the deposed deacon are still out to get Lark. <br /><br />Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a seed catalog to fulfill all of your floral dreams.<br /><br />Bethany House and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

First sentence: I truly hate that man.” “Lark, you know Ma said we should never hate anybody.” Larkspur’s sister Forsythia, third of the Nielsen daughters, spoke out of the side of her mouth, the way they had learned so as not to be heard by anybody else. Especially in church. Forsythia had spent a good part of her young life trying to keep her older sister out of trouble.<br /><br />Premise/plot: The Seeds of Change is the first in a new series by Lauraine Snelling. Larkspur, Forsythia, Delphinium, and Lilac are sisters heading west. Lark, the oldest, will be posing as CLARK, for safety. The decision to head west and join a wagon train came quickly. In fact, this decision isn't without some protest from some of the sisters! But circumstances have arisen that throw the girls safety into question. Life on the trail will be challenging--though these girls have been raised to do just about everything--shooting, throwing knives, etc. But what happens when they reach their destination? Can the girls make a new start?<br /><br />My thoughts: I tend to love books about pioneers heading west via wagon train. The stories are always tough and full of some drama--expect no less here, life on the trail could be DEADLY. <br /><br />I think my favorite part was the family adopting the kids--including a newborn--who became orphaned on the wagon train. I loved, loved, loved seeing Forsythia take on the role of mother.<br /><br />I loved Forsythia's romance with the doctor (from the wagon train). <br /><br />This is the first in a series and I think that's a good thing. If this was a stand alone I'd probably be a bit disappointed. We've got a good start to a plot--but not a full plot.

Larkspur gets into a jam one night when she tries to help her younger brother out of a pickle he has gotten into at the local saloon with a card sharp. Larkspur, as well as being a member of the local church is also a great poker player. She enters the saloon on the way home from church one afternoon when said brother and his friend have lost big time. She fools the cardsharp into thinking she doesn't know how to play and then ends up taking the pot and getting her brother and his friends' property back as well as a tidy nest egg for herself. When she exposes how the man was cheating he vows revenge. He can't stand the fact that he was bested by a young female. Larkspur and her sisters, Forsythia, Delphenium and Lilac take off to join a wagon train on the Oregon Trail, leaving their older brother to run the family mercantile and take over the house their parents left them and also their younger brother who doesn't want to come along. They end up buying some property in a small town in Nebraska on the trail and settle there. This is a great tale of women that can do it all in a pinch and just an interesting look at life in a wagon train and in a small town / farm. With four sisters I'm thinking there will end up being four parts to this series and I look forward to reading them all. <br /><br />I have voluntarily reivewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I so enjoyed this read, and really didn't want it to end, but at least there is another book to look forward to.<br />The Nielson family is very close, and with danger lurking, Larkspur resumes being Clark, and they are off to a new life for the sisters. There are four sisters traveling and they increase there family along the way, they are willing to give it all for others.<br />I loved how the title of the read resonates in several ways, and also with help in their survival. These girls are will prepared for their journey because of the foresight of their parents, and they share their skills with others.<br />Such a heartwarming read, and they wear their faith and love of the Lord for all to see!<br />I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

I have read most of this author’s work and loved all of <br />them, this one was missing the connection I have always felt with her characters. The main character wasn’t likable. I was very disappointed.