The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox - Book Review

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.

BOOK REVIEW

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery was brilliantly written. I felt so many different emotions throughout the book. Amanda Cox takes us into a variety of lives. She did a great job with dual timelines. 

It has three generations of stubborn southern women who are holding secrets they don’t want to let go of in fear of hurting the ones they love. It starts out with Glory Ann's story that took place during the Vietnam War and then moved on to her daughter, Rosemary's story, and then present-day to her granddaughter Sarah.

There are many lessons in this book. Everything from love, redemption, hope, and forgiveness.  It focuses on the lives and different personalities of the women and how they respond to not knowing what comes next. The characters Cox wrote are relatable. I felt like I was reading a real family history biography type book because of how she wrote it so well.  It's a beautiful book that is well written. It is a page-turner.  Through the words of Amanda Cox I can visually see the town and what the characters look like. I would love to see this book be made into a Hallmark film. 

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Before becoming a stay-at-home parent, Amanda spent her time counseling children, families, and individuals through life’s challenging moments. Now she uses those same skills to develop layered characters and stories, bringing them on a journey of hope and healing. A journey she hopes her readers experience in their own lives as they read.

A few of her favorite things are the sanctuary of the great outdoors, the feeling of pen on paper, the sound of her children’s laughter, and exploring new places with her husband of 15 years. (Oh, let’s not forget good fiction and good coffee. She’s addicted to both.).

Her website: CLICK HERE