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

 **I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own. 

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.

Before becoming a stay-at-home parent, Amanda Cox 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.) You can stay connected with her latest writing updates at www.amandacoxwrites.com. You can find her on social media by searching Amanda Cox Writes



If you are looking for a fast paced novel that will keep you at the very edge of your seat... well, to be honest, this one isn't going to be it. On the other hand, if you are looking for something a little slower that will slowly work it's way into your heart with beautifully written characters that will stick with you long after the final pages... well, this one might just be what you're looking for! It takes awhile to get into the story of these three generations of women--- or at least it did for me, but it's a worthwhile read once you get into it. 

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery is a dual timeline story. As I've said in the past, these can be pretty hit and miss for me, but I feel like Amanda Cox did this one justice, especially considering that she is still a fairly new author- this being only her third published novel. I enjoyed seeing the secrets unveiled across the storylines, and there were certainly many of them to keep things interesting! If you enjoy women's fiction, this is one to check out.