Mark: The Cedar Cove Chronicles, Book Five

by Cynthia Ulmer

Mark, The Cedar Cove Chronicles, Book Five, is the conclusion of previous book, Trudy, The Cedar Cove Chronicles, Book Four.
Beginning where "Trudy" ended, Mark Gideon has changed his name to Worthington Grant Davis and is on the run again. What will happen to him now?

442 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 31, 2013

About the author

Award 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.

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Barbara Daniels Dena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading this series since the beginning. "Mark" is a book that is completely unpredictable, as characters make their appearances and perform in ways we don't expect. I keep watching for Mark to receive his comeuppance, and what a twist we see in the end. I can hardly wait to see where this leads us in the future. This book is a stand alone, but my recommendation is to read the series to receive the intended flavor and understanding of the complete family dynamics. The Cedar Cove Chronicles are so indicative of the times, not to be missed if you are a lover of the era, 1940s onward.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Clint Murchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.