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'Cella: The Cedar Cove Chronicles, Book Three
Marcella Lewis, "Cella" is the only child of Madge and Sammy Lewis, granddaughter of Gil and Lana Ballard, niece and cousin to many. Growing up in a sea of relatives, Cella feels that no one listens to her and struggles to be noticed. At only fourteen, she suspects she's pregnant by her boyfriend, Jesse Jenkins. Ashamed to tell any of her family about her condition, she turns to the local witch for help; changing her life forever.
242 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2010
1 person is currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Ulmer
13 books147 followersAward medal recipient and acclaimed writer Cynthia Ulmer was born in Newport News, Virginia, and raised in Leland, North Carolina. Her wholesome 'Southern Family Fictional' book series, The Cedar Cove Chronicles, is an award-winning series of books.
It is a Christian-themed realistic drama series that follows the Jansan family and their friends and neighbors in the fictional community of Cedar Cove, North Carolina, during the 1940s and 1950s. Books one and four of "The Cedar Cove Chronicles" have won medals from the 'Wishing Shelf Indie Book Awards' and several have received several 5-star book reviews from Readers Favorite.
Now ready to bring readers to the present, she has released a new book series called Beyond Cedar Cove. Book one, Underneath The Honeysuckle Vine, was released in 2021, and book two, Broken Circle, is set to release soon. Her titles are available on Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble, and many other online bookstores and literary publications.
Cynthia shares, "Some people grapple with their life's purpose, while others are born knowing it. At an early age, I knew I would be a writer--as the narratives were always alive in my mind." The author's characters are so rich and relatable that readers will feel an intimate connection with them and eagerly anticipate the next chapter in their lives. The author hopes her books resonate with readers, stirring their hearts and inspiring them to foster deeper faith-filled connections with the Lord.
When Cynthia isn't writing, she finds joy in cooking, crocheting, immersing herself in music, and delving into the works of her favorite authors, Catherine Hyde Ryan, Lucinda Berry, and Wiley Cash. Above all, she treasures the time spent with her extensive family, particularly her grandchildren. Cynthia and her husband continue to call North Carolina home.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 22, 2014
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.
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.
February 13, 2023
Great read
Marcella Lewis, "'Cella" is the only child of Madge and Sammy Lewis, granddaughter of Gil and Lana Ballard, niece and cousin to many. Growing up in a sea of relatives, 'Cella feels that no one listens to her and struggles to be noticed. At only fourteen, she suspects she's pregnant. Ashamed to tell any of her family about her condition, she turns to the local witch for help; changing her life forever.
Marcella Lewis, "'Cella" is the only child of Madge and Sammy Lewis, granddaughter of Gil and Lana Ballard, niece and cousin to many. Growing up in a sea of relatives, 'Cella feels that no one listens to her and struggles to be noticed. At only fourteen, she suspects she's pregnant. Ashamed to tell any of her family about her condition, she turns to the local witch for help; changing her life forever.
November 21, 2023
A portrait of Cella's life
Cynthia Ulmer writes her Cedar Cove Chronicles with knowledge of the southern way of life during the fifties. The manner in which she portrays her characters and their homes makes the reader feel as if these folks are next door neighbors and we are part of their lives. 'Cella' gives the reader a view of life in the south without a racial bias.
Cynthia Ulmer writes her Cedar Cove Chronicles with knowledge of the southern way of life during the fifties. The manner in which she portrays her characters and their homes makes the reader feel as if these folks are next door neighbors and we are part of their lives. 'Cella' gives the reader a view of life in the south without a racial bias.
July 17, 2015
The Cedar Cove Chronicles were recently entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title The Cedar Cove Chronicles Book 1 through 5
Author: Cynthia Ulmer
Star Rating: 4 stars
Number of Readers: 41
Readers’ Comments
‘What a lovely set of books. I enjoyed them very much. Book One was the best for me. It set up the story well and introduced many interesting characters. In a world dominated with vampire books, it was lovely to enjoy the story based on family life.’ Female reader, aged 43
‘The author is excellent at balancing setting and plot development. Set in the 1940s, Book One is very well written. There is an element of mystery but mostly the story is focusing on the life of a family and what it must face. Pacing needs a little work here and there but, apart from that, totally enjoyable.’ Male reader, aged 54
‘I enjoyed Book Two the most. Life in Cedar Cove is never dull particularly with the Jansen family. There’s a lot of up and downs, twists and turns. It sort of reminded me of Little House on the Prairie just with a different setting and time. The author is particularly good at working with character; they are very well developed by the end of Book One and, in each novel, they develop a little more. New characters are introduced, old characters vanish. I guess it reflects the way life is. A very enjoyable set of book.’ Female reader, age 56
‘I loved all of them but Book Four was the best. I think, if I was to suggest anything to the author, it would be to work on pace.’ Male reader, aged 49
Stats
Editing 8/10
Plot 8/10
Writing Style 9/10
Covers 7/10
Of the 41 readers:
27 thought the covers were good or excellent.
38 would read another book by this author.
3 felt the pacing was a little slow in parts.
25 thought Book 1, 2 and 4 were the strongest.
‘A well-crafted story of a family growing up. Very enjoyable and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Awards
Title The Cedar Cove Chronicles Book 1 through 5
Author: Cynthia Ulmer
Star Rating: 4 stars
Number of Readers: 41
Readers’ Comments
‘What a lovely set of books. I enjoyed them very much. Book One was the best for me. It set up the story well and introduced many interesting characters. In a world dominated with vampire books, it was lovely to enjoy the story based on family life.’ Female reader, aged 43
‘The author is excellent at balancing setting and plot development. Set in the 1940s, Book One is very well written. There is an element of mystery but mostly the story is focusing on the life of a family and what it must face. Pacing needs a little work here and there but, apart from that, totally enjoyable.’ Male reader, aged 54
‘I enjoyed Book Two the most. Life in Cedar Cove is never dull particularly with the Jansen family. There’s a lot of up and downs, twists and turns. It sort of reminded me of Little House on the Prairie just with a different setting and time. The author is particularly good at working with character; they are very well developed by the end of Book One and, in each novel, they develop a little more. New characters are introduced, old characters vanish. I guess it reflects the way life is. A very enjoyable set of book.’ Female reader, age 56
‘I loved all of them but Book Four was the best. I think, if I was to suggest anything to the author, it would be to work on pace.’ Male reader, aged 49
Stats
Editing 8/10
Plot 8/10
Writing Style 9/10
Covers 7/10
Of the 41 readers:
27 thought the covers were good or excellent.
38 would read another book by this author.
3 felt the pacing was a little slow in parts.
25 thought Book 1, 2 and 4 were the strongest.
‘A well-crafted story of a family growing up. Very enjoyable and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Awards
November 19, 2015
I received this book from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest rewview...
I adore this book! It is beautifully written, the storyline flows together perfectly, and the characters were spot-on. It was hard putting this book down, it was a very good read. In certain sections of it, though, I felt like the book fell into your "average" category for this genre. I wished the author was able to put more of a unique twist on the plot, that way it didn't feel like I was (somewhat) reading a repeat of another book. This is why I didn't give it the full five stars. Either way, this book is a definite must-read!
I adore this book! It is beautifully written, the storyline flows together perfectly, and the characters were spot-on. It was hard putting this book down, it was a very good read. In certain sections of it, though, I felt like the book fell into your "average" category for this genre. I wished the author was able to put more of a unique twist on the plot, that way it didn't feel like I was (somewhat) reading a repeat of another book. This is why I didn't give it the full five stars. Either way, this book is a definite must-read!
December 10, 2015
While it does not matter that I am a 65 year old white male, I grew up in the south doing the time frame of Ms. Ulmers books. I love the way she dealt with race but did not offend either side, in Cella. The way she dealt with the reality of that period in our history, did not offend either blacks or whites as she had such good plots that were very believable.
December 5, 2016
Was the most Powerful of the 3 stories. 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!
January 6, 2017
Book 3 in the Cedar Cove Chronicles was very good. It shows another side to rural N.C.. It was interesting to see Jesse starting to mature and grow up. Cella obviously is going to need a little more time to grow. It puts into perspective babies shouldnt be having babies. Its also sad that superstition can so easily damage a family
June 16, 2016
5 STAR READ. Bold human drama. Real life issues, both past and present. The author surrounds her characters with all of the human emotions- both good and bad. MUST READ!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews