The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery

Author: Amanda Cox
Genre: Dual-Time
Release Date: September 7, 2021

Present Day. Sarah Ashby returns to her childhood home, determined to finally follow her dream of running the family business alongside her mother and grandmother. So when her mother, Rosemary, announces to her that Old Depot Grocery is closing, Sarah and her grandmother, Glory Ann, make a plan 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 her family's reputation, Glory Ann vows never to love again. But some promises are not as easily kept as she imagined.

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

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Reviewer: Winnie Thomas

Set in a small Tennessee town over the span of 60 years, this is a poignant, heart-touching story of three women in a family and the effect that secrets have had on their lives. Author Amanda Cox has skillfully woven the tale together and centered it around the Old Depot grocery store. It’s interesting to note that the store acts as a character in the story and is patterned after a grocery store with the same name in the author’s family history. It reminded me of a similar small grocery in our neighborhood when I was growing up.

The characters are carefully-crafted, realistic, and colorful, and it was fascinating to see what effects the secrets they were keeping from each other had on the trajectories of their lives and that of the other individuals involved. The author captured the essence of the rural South during the time periods depicted. It was interesting to see how some things changed during the years and others stayed much the same.

This is a tale of healing, forgiveness, and family love. It is also a story of how family expectations can change the course of lives.

“There was no going back. But every now and then an opportunity arose to mend things and embrace what you’ve been given, cracks and all.”

“Take that first step that feels right and see what happens next.”

I’d recommend this book to those who enjoy Christian women’s fiction with multiple timelines. It’s beautifully written with intriguing, realistic characters. I’m looking forward to reading more from this talented author.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Revell through Interviews and Reviews. All opinions are my own.

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Reviewer: Adriann Harris

Amanda Cox wrote another book that captivated me from beginning to end.  The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery delves head first into a three generational Christian dual timeline mother-daughter story with all the drama, heartache, and love one expects from Cox. As the title says, it is about secrets and their consequences, but also about seeking the truth. I couldn’t put it down!  

I actually had trouble deciding on my favorite quote, but I kept getting drawn back to this one because it resonates through to every generation, young and old alike.

“I don’t think you’ll ever find that ‘full life’ you’ve been craving until you accept the life you have. Mistakes. Heartache. Grief. All of it. Then you need to decide if you’re ready to let God have these burdens you’ve placed upon your own shoulders or if you’ll keep on carrying that pain and regret, miserable under the weight of it.”

I guess one could say the Old Depot Grocery was the main character of this story.  If only it could talk about the life it has witnessed within its walls. Oh wait that’s exactly what happens.  I was overjoyed at the end and the new future life of the Old Depot Grocery to come.  Future Sequel Amanda Cox?

I received this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

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Reviewer: Liz P.

When I saw that Amanda Cox had a new book coming out, it went immediately to my Want-to-Read Goodreads shelf! Then the title and cover was revealed I could hardly wait for it to release!

This book is about three generations of women, Glory Ann, Rosemary, and Sarah, their lives so close, (by blood and by Old Depot Grocery) yet so far away because of secrets kept.

Two words that I think of immediately after reading this book are consequences and redemption.

One little moment of stolen pleasure for Glory Ann, heaped a life of consequences on all those around her. She kept her secret because she didn’t want to hurt those she loved most, yet by keeping the secret she did exactly that. John 8:32 says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Sarah, Rosemary, and Glory Ann all had secrets, yet once they shared the truth, the past that had them bound lost its grip. 

Amanda did it again with the development of each character. Each individual character is unique but so beautifully connected together. It was almost like I was reading a three book series all at one time. It was amazing. 

Every time I pass a Train Depot or an old grocery store, I will forever be reminded of Old Depot Grocery. I can’t wait to see what Amanda creates next!

This book was provided courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews.

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Reviewer: Marta Aldrighetti

Three women, three different generations: grandma Glory Ann, mother Rosemary, daughter Sarah.

And a shop, Old Depot Grocery, where all three women are working: full of memories and secrets. Sarah would carry on that legacy, but something or someone thinks otherwise.

The story is realistic, well written, easy to read. Very good characters: fragile, broken, messy, likeable, proud, sensitive. I'll miss them.

I recommend this book.

This book was provided courtesy of Revell through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews.

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Reviewer: Carolyn Bryant

What a lovely, satisfying reading experience! This thought-provoking story about the effect of familial secrets is driven by unforgettable, multigenerational characters who leap off the page and capture your heart and soul. 

The story moves quickly and flows smoothly indicative of Ms. Cox’s superb storytelling skill.  It kept me invested from the first word to the last. The dual-timeline is beautifully and seamlessly executed. I loved the Old Depot Grocery setting which took on a life of its own evoking pleasant memories of a similar store from my childhood.  

This is one of the best reads of the year for me, and I highly recommend it.

This book was provided courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews, for my honest opinion.

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Reviewer: Paula Shreckhise

Such a heartfelt story that had me in tears at times.

Three generations of stubborn southern women that are holding secrets they don’t want to let go of for fear of hurting the ones they love. But true healing comes from bringing the secrets from darkness into the light. We long to find someone who sees us as we really are and accept us and love us. Why is it so hard to accept help from our loved ones?

“Happiness doesn’t come from ‘big whatevers’. It comes from the everyday choice to embrace the beauty in the little things.”

I fell in love with the setting of this book, the focal point being The Old Depot Grocery. The squeaky, uneven floors brought back long ago memories of a similar store in my father’s hometown and a general store across the street from me when I lived in rural, northern Wisconsin. I could picture the old relic that Nan and Sarah wanted to preserve.

The faith element underpinned the story, shown in the lives of selfless Clarence and steady Clay as well as the background of the other characters. The rest of the family depicted is so believable they could have been my friends and neighbors.

Many lessons to ponder in this wonderful novel. Lessons on love , forgiveness, redemption and hope amidst tragedy. “Time doesn’t magically heal wounds all by itself. Sometimes hurt leaves a gaping place, and the only thing for it is to stitch it back together and learn to live with the scars.”

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.

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