Welcome to Cedar Cove Life! Introducing:
"The Cedar Cove Chronicles"
by
Cynthia Ulmer
Come on a journey to the past and visit the Jansan family, where love, faith, and family ties are as natural as breathing.
The Jansans are a hard working family, living a simple life of true faith in Christ and real friendship. There is no television, no cell phones, no internet. But evil still exists. It's present in the form of World War II, with personal sacrifice and rationing. It's even as close as their next door neighbor.
Go back in time to rural Cedar Cove, NC where faith in the Lord abounds, friendship is loyal and enemies are relentless. Read the following reviews to see what other readers think.
Todd
"Very well written piece of Southern Lit. The author's prose reminds me very much of Clyde Edgerton, especially some of the humorous moments between such a close knit family and community that helped make the book lighthearted when it was needed. That being said, it is not a full fledged comedy, this is not Edgerton's Raney where the jokes are plentiful, there are a good amount to be had but they are needed for the comic relief amongst a serious family drama that unfolds. The topics of child abuse and past transgressions of various characters, such as the war vet who has returned home the black sheep of the family to everyone except his nephew Todd.
The story is told through Todd's eyes, a young earnest boy reminiscent of characters from Lucy Maud Montgomery's Avonlea narratives. These topics are handled tastefully and carefully enough that it is a book that a younger reader could enjoy without a parent worrying about what they will encounter in between the pages. But it is not to be considered a children's book simply because of that fact, the topics and events that Todd's family deal with are heavy at times. The author has simply written a novel that could be enjoyed by someone who is 15 and likewise someone who is 65.
If you are looking for an interesting narrative with a bit of southern charm, the heart warming closeness of Montgomery's community on Prince Edward Island and just a sprinkle of Law & Order this is not a book to miss out on." Caroline, Goodreads
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Todd: The Cedar Cove Chronicles, Book One by Cynthia Ulmer is a fictional novel that is the first part in the Cedar Cove Chronicles series. Todd is set in a typical Southern setting of the '40s and '50s. Life then was more simple and uncomplicated, although harder with fewer material comforts. Todd is one such story of a boy named Todd and his years and experiences as he grew up in the rural South several decades ago. The story starts with an introduction by Todd himself and his family, and is written in the first person from Todd’s perspective. The farming community ties are explored along with his teenage years, crushes, and of course, family. Yet, not everything is rosy as they all struggle with their neighbor, Horace Hammond, an alcoholic as well as an abuser. How this family stays strong through love and faith forms the basis of this novel.
Todd by Cynthia Ulmer is a nicely written book that keeps the reader engaged. It provides a glimpse into life in the '50s in North Carolina. I liked how Todd’s character is presented in the first person, which allows readers to understand his thoughts and feelings as he comes into his own. I also liked the bonds of love and caring portrayed between members of the family, parents, and grandparents, as these are the ones that shape him and form a lasting legacy. All in all, I enjoyed reading Todd: The Cedar Cove Chronicles, Book One by Cynthia Ulmer and would recommend it to anyone. Gisela Dixon, Readers Favorite
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"Cynthia Ulmer is now on my list of "must read" authors. I had the opportunity to review the first book in her, Cedar Cove Chronicles, Todd. The setting for the book is in rural North Carolina and set during World War II. The narration is done in first person by the lead character of this book Todd Jansan who is a fifth-grade boy.
The book has a strong Christian message of hope, trust, forgiveness and redemption. Since this is the first book in a series Cynthia did a fantastic job of developing each character. Even her secondary characters such as Grandma Cal (who is my favorite) are expertly development. You will love the characters you should, and loathe the ones you should.
Some of the subject matter is a bit rough and there is some violence but there is nothing obscene or overly graphic but it is not a read for younger kids. The story line is true to both the time period and the setting it is set in. The Jansan family own a tobacco farm and they are hard working, God fearing family. The neighbor, Horace Hammond is not. He is a loud mouth drunkard bully that terrorizes his wife, children and the entire community of Cedar Cove.
In this story, you will see what happens when a good man and an evil man path's collided in a way that neither can nor will back down from. The history between the two is long and the way the each of them handles the conflict could not be more different. You will see this conflict from Todd's perspective and you will see grace, forgiveness, true friendship and how God will work things out even when during your trials it may not look or feel like He's even listening. Kerry Heddon, Blessings and Bloggings
"I am an avid reader of all manner of books both fiction and non-fiction. I tend to like fiction thrillers and dramas the best. You know, spy stories and police dramas and the like. I have found that a well written story can be about anything, however, and still capture and hold the readers’ attention. Such is the case with 'Todd'. I found it to be a refreshing change from the high tech glitz and hero worshiping that is so prevalent in many books today. ‘Todd’ has the feeling of what I think of as real interactions among real down to earth people. It was sort of like home cooking if you will. I especially like the setting and the time era that was displayed. No cell phones and video games in that neighborhood. The book has the right mix of good versus evil. What a mean man Horace was!
It was the type of read that left me with a smile on my face and the contentment that is associated with a well written story. " Michael Callahan, Goodreads reader
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"It is a rare pleasure to find a book and author so attuned to the time and sense of an era and geographical location.
Todd is not only an exceptional story but a glimpse at our own past--and the past of our ancestors in the south. A MUST read!" Clint Murchinson, Goodreads reader.
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"Todd is set in rural North Carolina on a tobacco farm during the 1940's and is narrated by a ten-year-old boy, Todd Jansan. The plot revolves around two central themes: the conflict between the Jansan family and the Hammond's, and the conflict within the family between Todd's father and Todd's uncle who has returned home after being wounded in World War II. Both conflicts have the potential to tear the family apart as Todd's father struggles to exemplify the merits of faith, love, and perseverance to keep the family together.
Like some readers before me, I was a bit concerned about the cruelty and abuse mentioned in the book's blurb; however, my concern was unfounded since Ulmer did not discuss the subject in graphic detail.
In a world filled with gizmos and gadgets to help streamline life, it was a joy to read a heartfelt story that took me back to a time before life became a frenzied, frantic rat-race. The picturesque setting is the perfect backdrop to refreshingly unidealized characters who were so artfully crafted that I sometimes forgot they were fictitious.
The plot itself is brilliant and the dialogue is eloquent! Readers get a glimpse of life on a tobacco farm in North Carolina, as well as internal and external strife, through the eyes of a realistically observant ten-year-old narrator who idolizes an uncle who has served his country. The dialogue makes the characters endearing and imbues the plot with simple Southern flair.
Todd is an enjoyable, cozy read that has a profound and timeless quality to it. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy historical and Southern fiction!
Rating: 5/5 - Todd has a charming and quaint setting, it is filled with true-to-life and intriguing dialogue, and the protagonists exude old-time Southern family values. It really is the embodiment of Southern fiction!" Charity Rowell-Stansbury, On my Kindle.
Clyde and Wanda
"In the second installment of the series, we have a very strong 3.5 follow-up to the first novel. It would be great if GoodReads would allow for half star ratings, I truly feel it’s better than just a 3 star rating. The author brings us back to the family saga of the Jansans that she introduced us to in Todd. Here, we focus on Todd’s Uncle Clyde who has finally settled down with a family of his own, but it is not happily ever after for very long for the young family. Clyde’s wife, Wanda uncovers a mysterious past she never knew she had, sending her on a search of self-discovery that will have readers guessing till the very end. While Wanda is trying to piece together the hazy jigsaw that is her personal history, a familiar evil returns to the small community, once again putting the Jansan family in danger.
The author’s quick wit and charming Southern style are just as abundant here as they were in the first; she spins a yarn so convincing it’s easy to imagine yourself there on the farm with the family. For those who loved the large ensemble of characters in other Southern literature works such as Billie Letts’ Where the Heart Is, you’ll love Clyde and Wanda, it delivers on the large ensemble front in spades. What is unique however about this author is that where many others try to have a large ensemble and fail due to their characters not being memorable enough, that is not the case here. Each character, even the minor characters, will stick out in the reader’s mind long after they’ve finished the book. A solid sequel to the author’s first novel, it is one that should definitely not be missed." Caroline, Goodreads
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"Enjoyed real life situations without any vulgarity. Good read for me at 65 years of age. It is a good read for people at all ages, even teenagers. Good family reading to curl up on the couch on a cold winder day. I recommend that you purchase and read all of Mrs. Ulmers books, there are good characters plots and believable situations in their plots. She intermixed the characters in the next books very well." Samuel Mathis, Goodreads
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"Cynthia Ulmer’s second book in her Cedar Cove Chronicles is continuation of the story; however the main characters in this volume are Clyde and his wife Wanda. Clyde is now married with a child of his own and is a successful business man. Wanda, his wife, has had a very odd and hurtful childhood and as the story unfolds you find out that there have been many lies told and secrets kept throughout her life.
I enjoyed the journey of learning the truth of Wanda’s childhood and I liked how her family was brought together, I thought that some of it was a bit simplistic but it was a nice story line. This novel is well done and your favorite characters and villains all make an appearance. However, you must read the first novel if you want to understand the underlying history and understand each character’s way of thinking and motivations.
I really enjoy the way Cynthia develops the plot to her novels. They are well thought out and fit well within the time period of the book. I would say that my only disappointment in this book was the story line about Clyde becoming a deacon for the church. I felt that I never really understood his reaction and I thought there was going to be an introduction of two more characters, but that never really seemed too develop.
With that being said, if you loved the first book like I did, you will really enjoy the continuation of the story. You will see justice; you will see forgiveness and a strong Christian message throughout the book. Kerry Heddon, Blessings and Bloggings.
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Cella
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"Was the most Powerful. It dealt with sensitive issues of the 1950's, that are still prevalent in today's society. The manner in which the problems were introduced, as well as how the characters coped with them, made for a page-turning, "CAN'T PUT IT DOWN" READING EXPERIENCE. BRAVO!" F. Stephens, Goodreads
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"I absolutely loved Cella. This is the third novel by Cynthia Ulmer, once again the reader finds themselves in the small, tight knit community of Cedar Cove. (Not to be confused with the Debbie Macomber series. I did some research and turns out, the indie series by Cynthia Ulmer was published first, I personally prefer the series by Mrs. Ulmer to Mrs. Macomber.)
This time the reader is introduced to the character of Marcella, or Cella for short, the girlfriend of Jesse Jenkins. Jesse Jenkins is one of Todd Jansan's best friends that we were introduced to back in the first book of the series. Now, all of the characters we were introduced to in the first book are older. They are teenagers and young adults now, and one day, Jesse and Cella come face to face with a very adult reality of their young lives. A reality that forces them both to grow up quicker than either had expected. Cella, like so many other teens in past and present, discovers she is pregnant.
How will she deal with the situation? How will her family react? Especially given her Christian upbringing, she and Jesse are understandably very anxious about it all. Also, one must keep in mind the time this is set in; set in the 1950's, this sort of reality was not as common place as it is now, there by explaining the sheer panic that Cella experiences over it all.
True to form, the author deals with her characters facing harsh realities through grace and strength. The author lightly touches on the segregation and blunt racism that Jesse and Cella go through in the 1950's in the south, but it is not at the forefront of the story. While it is shown in the novel, the focus is on how the young couple deal with the consequences of their actions, and their journey together maturing as a couple.
Things continue to change for the young couple once Jesse makes a life changing announcement of his own. I won't give it away for those who have not read the book, but his decision changes his and Cella's life in a way that has not yet touched any of the characters we've come to know and love in the small community.
I really enjoyed the third installment in Mrs. Ulmer's series. Her writing is so smooth that it took no time at all to once again feel like I was a part of the community; it was like slipping into a pair of comfortable shoes I had worn many times. Completely effortless to put on and thoroughly enjoy. Also, Jesse has been a favorite character of mine in the series from the first book; I really liked having a book with him more at the forefront of the story.
This tale does move away from the mystery side of events that she had in both of her preceding books, but the absence of a mystery for the reader to solve doesn't take away from the story, nor does it slow down the intrigue of the story. You'll find yourself championing Cella and Jesse as their story grows, rejoicing with them in their triumphs. Here, it is everyday life that is the driving force, proving that everyday life can be just as interesting as a good thriller.
There are plenty of new characters along with old ones that we come to know in this novel, and the author does a fantastic job of crafting them, making them distinguishable from her others, she's always got a plethora of new and exciting cast members for the readers. Which is exactly why reading her works never gets old, I highly recommend the series to anyone who loves a large ensemble of characters, and close knit community." Caroline, Goodreads
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Trudy
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"The fourth book in Cynthia Ulmer’s, The Cedar Cove Chronicles is a good one! The tile character Trudy is one that you find in the first book for a brief moment, her story begins with a brutal domestic violence ridden marriage to Mark Gideon. Trudy has finally found the courage to escape a loveless violent marriage once the violence escalates and now includes her son.
The story brings you back to Cedar Cove and all of your favorite characters. As Trudy reunites with her family and begins to heal from the emotional and physical wounds inflicted on her she begins to find herself attracted to the first book’s main character, Todd. The feeling is mutual but they both understand that the relationship cannot proceed until Trudy is able to divorce Mark, and he cannot be found.
Once her husband Mark realizes that he has been left, he begins to search for her and as he realizes he has no control over the situation any more, he begins to slip mentally into paranoia and delusions. It’s always “fun” to see a character start to lose connection with reality and in this case, it could not happen to a nicer guy.
Through a series of events, Mark finds himself working with Bob who has recently moved from Cedar Cove after he and Nancy broke up. As they become friends Mark finds out that Trudy is now in Cedar Cove and makes his way there, so he can give her a good beating and collect the money he feels his father-in-law owes him, because he married his daughter.
Violence follows with Mark and he ends up trying to rob her father and this ends with Mark shooting him in the process. Now the race is on to find Mark before he can find Trudy. There are several twists that you won’t see coming and this especially includes the ending (no spoilers here!)
The novel does a great job of furthering the characters and I like the plot line. My only complaint is I thought there was a little too much attention given to Bob and Nancy, several times I wanted to reach in and shake Bob, I also felt Mark’s mental disintegration could have been a few pages shorter." Kerry Heddon, Blessings and Bloggings.
"What can I say about Trudy, the fourth book of the Cedar Cove Chronicles? In one word: WOW. I was hooked on the author’s books from the get-go, but she has really outdone herself with this one. By far my absolute favorite of the series, it is also longer than the previous 3, but in spite of that fact, I found myself not wanting the book to end! Sometimes with books that impress this much it can be hard to find the words to describe them, but I’ll try.
We begin with being introduced to Trudy, who we had seen briefly in the first book as a close friend of Todd Jansan’s older sister, Libby. She and her young son, Toby, are fleeing an abusive home in the opening pages, one that has been fraught with terrible domestic violence. We see her after she has plucked up the courage to come back to the home she had run away from. I’m glad that the author starts us out at this point, we do get plenty of flashbacks to the abuse she and her son have endured over the years, but I’m thankful that we don’t have to go through the heartache of seeing her treated that way over the course of an entire book before she makes the decision to leave. She’s shown to be a fierce mother, who will do anything for her son, although she is deeply afraid of returning home, she knows she has to get them away from her abusive husband, as his treatment of them is only worsening.
She comes home, scared of rejection from her family due to the fact that she ran away six years prior to us coming in, and has not been in touch with them since. To make it worse, it was her own sister’s boyfriend that she ran off with, (her sister actually dodged a bullet there, both girls would have been far better off if Mark Gideon had never entered their lives, but then we wouldn’t have a story, of course).
As Trudy returns home and is picking up the fragments of her life, her husband comes after her. Mark Gideon is an interesting villain to say the least. One thing that Mrs. Ulmer has always been good at is writing intriguing villains who are never simply one dimensional. We learn there is a reason behind Mark’s behavior and actions. He’s a very calculating individual, definitely one of the most psychologically interesting villains I’ve read in a while. His background is highly original and engaging, he is all at once intimidating and fascinating.
As the story progresses, Trudy and her son start to have a somewhat normal life in Cedar Cove, becoming less fractured as they go. The healing process has begun and Trudy reconnects with those she had long ago left behind. However, once she learns that Mark Gideon is after her and their son, the bit of happiness they had begun to build is threatened. I can’t say too much without giving everything away, but this is truly a gem to read.
My favorite of the series yet, I almost find it hard to review because I want to say so much about the various events that take place in the book but I also don’t want to give any spoilers away! This is a story of epic proportions, drama, thriller, mystery, and redemption at its best. The book does leave on a cliffhanger, but not to worry! There’s a follow up book to Trudy, the fifth book in the series picks up exactly where this one leaves off. You’ll want to immediately have it on hand to jump right into as soon as you finish up Trudy. Accurately titled Mark, we get to delve even deeper into his character’s psyche than we even do in this one. Which I am finishing up now and will promptly review as soon as I am finished with it, just do yourself a favor and pick this up! You will not regret it." Caroline, Goodreads
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Mark
"An exceptional continuation of the family saga- but introduces the ugly side of human behavior. From an unplanned pregnancy to attempted murder, this book is a page turner. 5 STARS effort by this wonderful author." Clint Murchinson, Goodreads
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"In the fifth installment of the Cedar Cove Chronicles, we are immersed deeper into the character of Mark Gideon, who was previously introduced the the fourth book as the best villain in the tiny community of Cedar Cove since Horace Hammond. Here, the story picks up right where we left off in the last book, with Mr. Gideon taking more of the center stage. On the run from the law, we accompany Mark on an interesting journey. Here is a character who is the personification of the phrase "out of the frying pan and into the fire," every scenario he lands himself in is more interesting than the last. As a reader, I even found myself feeling sorry for Mark on occasion, something I never would have thought possible in the last book.
An author who can craft a villain that elicits the reader's sympathy as well as the reader's wrath is a master of their craft, something Cynthia Ulmer has proven with each of her novels. This is the first one that has the antagonist front and center but it works so well. Mark Gideon is a very cunning and crafty character, it's so much fun to go with him on his many misadventures. The ending of the novel was pretty surprising, but fitting, given his character. It's so odd to root for someone like Mark, and yet, that ends up happening more than once in the book. Without giving away the ending, I will say I did not anticipate how the author wrapped it all up. I do believe it was more true to life however, than what one would usually expect in a novel driven by the antagonist.
I highly recommend Mark to fellow readers who enjoy criminal based novels that come with a good dose of humor and lengthy journeys featuring a sly shyster who always seems to have a trick up his sleeve. Caroline, Goodreads
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Lilly Jean
"Cynthia's writing skills as an author have developed to the level of the best authors I have ever read in Lilly Jean. While the first book, Todd, was a wonderful read with great character developments, If I had not known that Cynthia was the same writer of Todd and Lilly Jean one would never know. I enjoyed all of her books, but Lilly Jean is all in a class by itself. I give Lilly Jean a 5 star rating and recommend it to all readers." Samuel Mathis, Goodreads
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"In the final installment of the Cedar Cove Chronicles we get to see a member of the Jansen family go off to college. Lilly Jean goes off to nursing school and while it's not a four year college, she still gets the full college experience. Including living on campus and having a roommate. For someone who is the baby of a tight knit family, this is a huge adjustment and a big step forward in moving towards her independence and shaking off the long held little girl image her whole family still hangs on her.
Past traumas coupled with her sheltered upbringing have caused her to become a somewhat shy, introverted girl who strives to prove to herself and her family that she can accomplish the difficult and stressful schooling needed to achieve her dream. She does well in her classes but faces personal difficulties along the way. While most can say that of course no one's first year of education post high school runs smoothly, even just when considering personal trials apart from the hefty workload, Lilly Jean ends up with one roller coaster of a first year.
There is much here that anyone can relate to, especially anyone who ever set out to accomplish a task that no one thought they could handle. It was an entertaining read and completely different from the previous books in the Cedar Cove Chronicles. We saw a lot of new territory and got to delve deeper into minor characters from previous books, seeing their stories more fleshed out than ever before.
Certain individuals from Lilly Jean's background came back into the forefront, some she's not sure she would even want to have around, and it is interesting to see the author tie everything up. The final book brings the characters and the reader full circle with the series. I look forward to seeing what the author will come up with.
This was a very enjoyable series and I would recommend them to anyone who love a good story about a multi-generational community of unique characters." Caroline, Goodreads
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