The Seeds of Change, a novel by Lauraine Snelling is the first book of the “Leah’s Garden Book” series. The story begins in Linksburg, Ohio, 1865.

The Nielsen sisters—Larkspur, Forsythia, Delphinium, and Lilac—named after flowers grown in their late mother’s garden, have a life-changing plan. Their decision is hastened when their younger brother is swindled at a card game by a traveling gambler. The oldest sister, Larkspur, has played poker as a parlor game, and is known to be quite good. She innocently challenges the gambler and wins back her brother’s losses, plus a good deal more. Her winnings however, anger the swindler who threatens revenge. Fearing for Larkspur’s life, their older brother helps his sisters escape.

They buy a wagon and oxen and flee their Ohio community for Independence, Missouri to join a wagon train bound for Oregon. Because four unaccompanied women would draw attention, Larkspur dons a disguise, becoming “Clark” Nielson, an older brother accompanying his three sisters.

As the wagon train makes its way toward Oregon, they meet hardships, and witness tragedies among their fellow travelers. They help where they can, even informally adopting the children of fellow travelers when the mother dies in childbirth and the father dies in an accident.

The sisters decide to end their journey in southern Nebraska where they buy a homestead with a sod house. Their struggles now take a different turn—making a home out of rough land. Some chaste romance takes place between one of the sisters and a widowed doctor.

I enjoyed this first book of the “Leah’s Garden Book” series. I have read other series written by Lauraine Snelling and find her writing exceptional with impressive research, rich land descriptions, and characters full of life. Her work always has strong Christian overtones that to me, add to the story. I never tire of Oregon Trail books, and I particularly enjoyed The Seeds of Change.