The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox

ABOUT THE BOOK

Present Day. After tragedy plunges her into grief and unresolved anger, Sarah Ashby returns to her childhood home determined to finally follow her long-denied dream of running Old Depot Grocery alongside her mother and grandmother. But when she arrives, her mother, Rosemary, announces to her that the store is closing. Sarah and her grandmother, Glory Ann, make a pact to save the store, but Rosemary has worked her entire life to make sure her daughter never follows in her footsteps. She has her reasons--but she'll certainly never reveal the real one.

1965. Glory Ann confesses to her family that she's pregnant with her deceased fiancé's baby. Pressured into a marriage of convenience with a shopkeeper to preserve the family reputation, Glory Ann vows never to love again. But some promises are not as easily kept as she imagined.

This dual-timeline story from Amanda Cox deftly explores the complexity of a mother-daughter dynamic, the way the secrets we keep shape our lives and the lives of others, and the healing power of telling the truth. 

MY THOUGHTS.....

I was deeply impressed with this author's debut novel, and after reading this book, my admiration has only increased! Author Amanda Cox has created a powerful tale that brings back so many memories and evokes so many emotions of my childhood; even the book cover reminds me of the grocery stores in my Kentucky hometown. Cox introduces us to three women in this dual-time novel that spans 60 years, and we can see how our society has changed from 1965 to  today. A pregnancy outside of marriage, and all of the stigma that would have been present in 1965, is a reminder that we now have a different mindset in 2021.  Glory Ann's young man died before they could marry, and even though she did marry  to save her reputation, she doubted that she would ever love in the same way again. Was it possible that God's Plan might include another love for Glory Ann?

Yes, there is romance in The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, but what makes this book so special is  the love between three generations of women. I loved the bond between Glory Ann and her granddaughter Sarah as they joined together to thwart the closing of the Old Depot Grocery, but I could also sympathize with Rosemary's desire to see it close. We witness so many facets in both of these mother/daughter relationships: Glory Ann and daughter Rosemary, and Rosemary and her daughter Sarah, and then, the very special ties between Glory Ann and Sarah. Cox vividly portrays all of the family dynamics, including pain, loss, multiple secrets, and eventually, joy and triumph!

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery is a heartwarming story with amazing characters, an intriguing plot, and the poignant reminder that truth truly does set us free. I highly recommend The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, but be prepared to shed some tears!

I received a copy of this book from Revell. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda Cox is a blogger and a curriculum developer for a national nonprofit youth leadership organization, but her first love is communicating through story. She holds a bachelor's degree in Bible and theology and a master's degree in professional counseling. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers.

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