The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery

Written by Amanda Cox

Narrated by Stephanie Cozart

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781705038383

Amanda Cox

Amanda Cox is the author of The Edge of Belonging and The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, both of which were the Christy Award Book of the Year in 2021 and 2022, respectively. She holds a bachelor's degree in Bible and theology and a master's degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband and their three children. Learn more at AmandaCoxWrites.com.

Reviews for The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery

[Laura · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The characters are all lovable and relatable. She draws beautiful word pictures. And the story is one of redemption and God’s faithfulness. You felt like you were right there with them through it all. I even enjoy the two time periods running simultaneously through the book. Beautifully done!

[kibosa_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When starting to read this book, I thought the plot would be secrets kept, secrets uncovered, people mad, people reunite. This story is so much more. The characters grew and their stories unfolded as you continued reading. Nothing was as simple as I first expected. I enjoyed the storytelling alternating from present to Glory Ann's story.

[pwrxtrem2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was very long for the premise of the story and seemed to drag on. However I did end up listening to the end. It was confusing with going back and forth with the time frames.

[Connie Pettersen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is my first book by Amanda Cox, and won’t be the last. This story was captivating, tragic, happy, nostalgic and fulfilling, all at the same time. The characters well developed and felt like friends. Well done!

[Ann Bush · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Keeping secrets isn't a good plan. Ever. However, this was an enjoyable story and everything came to light.

[Hanica30 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Everything in this book is so sadly predictable. The characters keep secrets and make mistakes throughout their entire lives only to change with no problems whatsoever in a blink of an eye in the end and become so insightful and enlightened. The feeling was as if I was reading a pretentious Beverly Hills episode.

[Frances O'Connor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well written with believable characters and story line. Nicely layered and great message. It's told in duel-time, shifting between now and then as the story unfolds. Not stupid but not too intense either. Good reader.

[debs4jc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A heartwarming story centered around a grocery store and the family that owns it. There is Sarah - the youngest who returns to the family homestead after a tragedy, holding tight to her own secrets. The oldest is Glory Ann, Sarah's grandmother who also loves the Old Depot Grocery store that she has worked in most of her life. Glory Ann and Sarah want to save the store, but Glory Ann's daughter Rosemary has other ideas - and secrets of her own. The reader also gets to see into Glory Ann's past and find out what brought her to the Old Depot Grocery Store - and to her husband Clarence - in the first place. This family is threatened by the secrets it keeps, but as the women work and live together they gradually learn that family is still family, even when you open up to them and share the secrets that you think will be hurtful. I greatly enjoyed this story of generations of women learning to open up to one another, I definitely recommend it to readers seeking thoughtful and heartwarming Christian fiction.

[brenda63_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This powerful dual-storyline novel seamlessly flows from one timeline and narrator to the next. The believable story revolves around three generations of women from the same family: Glory Ann, Rosemary, and Sarah. Each hides her fair share of secrets, complicating their relationships. I'm impressed with the author's skill in fully developing all of the secondary characters.

[estherfilbrun · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Few mysteries have struck me as deeply or stayed with me as long as this book. From the first few scenes, it was easy to see that Cox is is a masterful author, and she pulled me into the story and kept me there—even when I had other, more pressing things to do. This story carries a depth with it that I didn’t anticipate. I knew I would likely enjoy it when I read “split-time”—I’m a sucker for such things. But what I DIDN’T expect was the exploration of what our past, hidden perhaps for some very good reasons, can do to us if we don’t take time to acknowledge and heal—and allow those around us to find healing with us. Though each of us may stand on our own two feet, we are deeply interconnected with each other. And hurts and grievances affect others far more than we want to admit most of the time.This book is beautiful; a work of art, but even more a work of souls. Deeply redemptive, deeply hope-filled, I enjoyed every moment I got to spend with these characters. I can’t wait for the next Cox book to come out.I was given a review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

[marypo-3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Amanda Cox's latest release has the heartfelt warmth I've come to expect from her, but it takes its time coming, in all the bitterness and lost years. It mirrors life in that way. The middle of the book was heavier than I expected, though, and

[chrirob · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sarah must reluctantly return home to live in the same small town she tried so hard to move beyond - but it and the Old Depot Grocery kept calling to her. Her mother Rosemary has lived in their little town all her life and has dreamed of doing something more than raising her daughters and helping run her mother's Old Depot Grocery. Nan loves running her Old Depot Grocery and is thrilled that her granddaughter Sarah has come to help rescue the family business. However, time is running out to save not only the business but their dying little town. Can these three generations of Clearwater women find harmony living together before their past tears down their futures.This was a good book and the characters were very strong, sad, and amusing - reminded me of many of my own family members!

[harley0326 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I could not put this book down until I read the last page. It was such a wonderful dual time story that had my emotions all over the place. The first thing I noticed was the cover. It screams of the days when soda shoppes were popular and family stores were prospering. The author does an excellent job of combining time periods together to create a journey of secrets, loss, family and unconditional love. It is hard to pick out which time period I enjoyed more. When we are introduced to Glory Ann, I loved reading about her first love and how happy she was if only for a brief period. The author talks about the Vietnam War and the tragedy that families faced as they received news of the death of loved ones. Glory Ann was broken into pieces when the love of her life was killed in the war. I was quite upset when her parents were more worried about their standing in the community than what their daughter was going thru. When we travel to the present we are introduced to Rosemary and Sarah. I loved the dynamics between these two characters. They both have suffered loss but there is a strain between them. The store brings them back together as decisions need to be made that will upset Sarah’s grandmother. There is much between these three generations with secrets that will have lasting affects on everyone. The emotions are felt deep within the soul as we travel from a marriage of convenience, the Vietnam War, unexpected pregnancies and family history that holds the key to long hidden secrets. I appreciate the author highlighting what soldiers experience in the war and how an idea is formed to help those coming hone. I don’t want to give anything away, because like me I’m sure readers want to experience everything first hand as they open the pages of this book. With hard days ahead for one young couple we see the imprint it left on the family generation after generation. It was almost like the three women had similar lives but slightly different in how they handled their problems. The best part of the book for me was the brokenness that was felt as these three women face their past and repair family relationships. I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads Blogging Program. The review is my own opinion.

[polarmath · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an interesting story that went back and forth between present day and the past of 1965. It goes between family dynamics, secrets of the past, and tragedies of the present. Sarah returns to her childhood home but finds that things are not as expected. The family is planning to close the grocery story that they has been in their family for decades. Sarah cannot figure out the reason for the closing or why they don't want her to revive the family business. A great story of forgiveness and family.I received a copy to read, the review is mine.

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a beautifully written book that is very emotional. I did not want to put this book down. This tells the story of a grandmother, daughter and granddaughter. This tells the story of these women and the store they run both in the present and the past. I fell into these women’s stories. You will laugh and cry. I always love this authors books and this is one of my favorites. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[fcplcataloger · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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. 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.

[lauigl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery is a dual-timeline novel that opens in the present day and shortly thereafter transports us back in time to 1965. Glory Ann, a young girl of nineteen, finds herself expecting and thrust into the hands of a shopkeeper who has agreed to marry her in the wake of her fiancés tragic death in Vietnam to preserve her family’s good name and reputation. Glory Ann’s heart is shattered along with her hopes and dreams of a life with Jimmy who is no more. But can the passing of time help to mend a broken heart?Present Day – Three generations of women—Glory Ann, Rosemary and Sarah, have come to the realization that their Old Depot Grocery has fallen victim to the appeal of larger chain stores with their extensive variety and modern conveniences. The store is barren and customers are sparse. Sarah, who has recently arrived back in Tennessee after suffering a loss is dismayed by the condition of the store that her mother and grandmother are still struggling to maintain, the store she grew up in. What she observes now does not coincide with her cherished memories. Old Depot Grocery is still appreciated by many in the small town of Brighton for its friendly atmosphere and the owners’ exceptional customer service, but it’s not nearly enough to keep the family business, that dates back decades, afloat. Will the three women fight to preserve the family’s legacy, or will they give in to Old Depot’s inevitable future?Unfortunately, the decision to preserve the shop at all costs is not a unanimous one amongst the women. Although fond memories are linked to the store, so are tragic ones.  For Rosemary, burying the past along with anything associated with its painful memories seems the more favorable option.  She can ensure that her mother, Glory Ann, will be financially set in her old age, and there will be no reason for Sarah to give up her life as a successful city girl and be forever tied to the old debilitating store the way she was. Each woman has her reasons for wanting to save or relinquish Old Depot Grocery, but they’re all also harboring many secrets that, once revealed, will either draw them closer together or possibly break them forever apart.The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery was AMAZING!! I was glued to its pages from start to finish. There was heartbreak, secrets, guilt, revelations, unconditional love, redemption, forgiveness and so much more. Amanda Cox weaves together all of the various elements of the story flawlessly. When you’ve read the last page you won’t believe how she accomplished tidying up all the loose ends into a perfectly fulfilling and satisfying conclusion. Glory Ann, Rosemary and Sarah were great characters along with some of the supporting players. My thoughts about them lingered each time I put the book down. By the end everyone exposes their secrets, comes to terms with their inner demons, and learns that while there is still breath in their lungs they can move forward in life towards their dreams. Even Old Depot can be transformed.The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery touched my heart and moved me to tears several times. I highly recommend this book. A phenomenal read.Thank you, Revell Books, for a complimentary ARC of The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery. All opinions of it are my own.

[cherylk_44 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a sweet read. I liked the past and the present flowing together. Although, I have to admit that I was drawn more to the past and Glory Ann. Her story really did resonate with me and her voice was the loudest. I feel like her story is the glue that bonded all three women together. Yet, my next favorite is Rosemary. This is because she was featured in the past as a prominent character as well. Therefore, I grew close to her too. However, Sarah is commended for the fact that she was right there with her grandmother in not wanting to sell Old Depot Grocery. Overall, this is a lovely story with a happy ending.

[emscape · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm giving this three and a half stars because it's my own fault that I requested it from Early Reviewers based on the description without checking the publisher. I do think those descriptions ought to be more overt about their status as a Christian book so that they only get requested by people who like that kind of thing and don't end up with lackluster reviews, but I guess that's up to them. The story is about three women, Grandmother, Mother and Daughter who run a grocery store in middle-of-nowhere Tennessee. In the present day action, the Mother wants to sell the place, and the Daughter and Grandmother do not. The story jumps around in time, but the three storylines are pretty chronological, explaining what connections each of them have to the store and their motivations for wanting to keep the place and also for wanting to sell. The title's promise of "secret keepers" turns out to be pretty tame as far as secrets go, on each of the three accounts. There's also a lot of reliance on the story device of people who just don't communicate properly with their loved ones, which causes a lot of recriminations, resentment, and missed opportunities. The aforementioned Christianity of the book isn't too bang-you-on-the-head, but each of the three women cites her faith as being supportive, while totally not acting like the "Christians" they claim to be, but then hypocrisy is more of a characteristic of religious people than an actual adherence to the faith they profess, so I suppose that's pretty realistic. Overall, I didn't hate the book, but I expected something more juicy and also less religious.

[mizroady · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So many things attracted me to this book; the cover, the title, the back cover blurb and the author’s reputation for good books! I must say I was not disappointed! I loved this book! This story spans a period of 60 years in the lives of 3 generations of women. The old saying, “Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” came to my mind as I read. It holds true in these 3 women’s lives because when we are dishonest in any situation, we open the door to problems that will eventually be out of our control. Each of these women was not deceitful by nature, but through circumstances beyond their control felt hiding their secrets would be less painful for those they loved. The Old Depot Grocery had been the center of the family’s life since 1965 when Glory married the owner Clarence, a man 10 years her senior. The marriage didn’t start out as a traditional one for sure, but through the years grew strong in affection and respect. After her husband died she continued to run the store that she saw as a life blood to her family and community. After 56 years it was becoming a burden with the new grocery store in town taking most of its customers. Although she was in her 80’s she was determined to keep it going. She has secrets from her past that drive her on. Her daughter, Rosemary, who grew up in the store has other plans. She wants the store sold and her mother’s last years to be those of ease. Tempers flare and heads butt as they disagree. Her mother’s future isn’t the only reason she wants to sell. She holds many secrets in her heart that have been hidden for many years.Enter Sarah, daughter and granddaughter. She has just lost her husband in an accident and comes home in hope of support and healing. She gets caught in the crossfire of her family and while seeing both sides she has her opinions and even plans. Sarah has her own secrets she holds close. As the three women once again live in close proximity, their secrecy gives way to a slippery slope of emotions and events that reveal what none of them felt would ever come to light.I saw so many deep lessons as I read. Shame and fear of upsetting others involved are never motives to hide the truth. It hurts far more to find out one was betrayed than to face the pain of facts. The longer one conceals secrets, the more complicated they become and the harder it is to come clean. I also saw how forgiving yourself is often more difficult than forgiving another. I couldn’t put the book down! There are so many surprises along the way! It was incredible to view all three lives and see what the other ones could not see. A dynamic and entertaining book!I received this book from Revell in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

[medwards429 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thank you in advance to publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books), for providing a complimentary review copy of the book through the Revell Reads blogger program. I am also on the author’s launch team. A positive review was definitely not required or requested in any way; all words are my own.Last year I had to privilege of reading the author’s debut book, The Edge of Belonging, for the program. So, I was eagerly looking forward to The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery (SKODG).Like her first novel, SKODG is also a dual-time novel. And, this too is a standalone novel.The cover of SKODG stands out and has a classic, old-timey feel to it. You can almost smell the fresh produce at the store and certainly see people shopping there. It also has that Hallmark movie vibe to it in that the cover seemingly can come to life as you’re staring at it.As usual, Cox uses short chapters to move the story along and I definitely found myself quite interested in the story. I read 100 pages in 90 minutes. And, finished the book within 24 hours (off and on). It took me a bit longer than the first one, but that is in no way a reflection on this sophomore effort.The past is told from June 1965 to October 1997, mostly from Glory Ann’s perspective then adding in Rosemary’s (Sarah’s mother).The “PRESENT DAY” is told from Sarah, Glory Ann, and Rosemary’s perspective. The two time periods alternate frequently and with notice at the beginning of the chapter.The “secret keepers” is definitely an appropriate part of the title. Each woman – Glory Ann, Rosemary, and Sarah have their own secrets.Other support characters include Clarence (GA’s husband); Jessie (Jessamine, Rose’s younger sister), and Clay (guy “sweet” on Sarah); and Bo (Sarah’s father).There is an “out of wedlock” pregnancy (considered taboo back in 1965), drug and alcohol abuse are referenced but not depicted in the book.The present day begins with Sarah looking forward to working at Old Depot Grocery and making it a mother-daughter-granddaughter team. But, there is a hitch – someone wants to buy it.PAST (1965-1997) – June 1965, Glory Ann finds herself pregnant at age 19 with her dead fiancé’s child. Jimmy is presumably killed in Vietnam. And, given the time period, her family (particularly her father) is quick to marry her off.Clarence Clearwater cares for Glory Ann and is very willing to marry her and raise the baby as his own.Glory Ann begins to come to terms with her new marriage and even grows to love Clarence. But, GA continues to see Jimmy’s parents, taking Rose with her.One poignant moment involves GA showing up at her mom’s birthday party with Rose. It is clear – GA’s parents, especially her mother, want nothing to do with GA or Rose, especially Rose. There is a cryptic message GA’s mother tells her – Jimmy’s parents can never know.It isn’t long until a second child is on the way.As the years pass, GA learns of soldiers, POWs coming home. She wonders about Jimmy, but is happy in her life with Clarence, Rose, and Jessie.But, when Rose is 17, a strange man wanders by to check on her mother. And, when she is 18 a tragedy strikes that Rosemary will take most of her life to atone for and forgive herself for. And, for a time she tries to connect with her mother’s parents. As she learns – she isn’t really wanted there.By 1986, a letter shows up that Rosemary gets the wrong ideas from.Between 1989-1997, Rosemary gets married and has Sarah who is content playing at the store and wants to be a part of it, something her mother is against. She is determined to keep her daughter from repeating her mistakes.PRESENT DAY – Old Depot Grocery is in a slump and Rosemary is hoping Sarah will talk with her grandmother (Nan) about selling it. Sarah, like her grandmother decades earlier, is grieving a loss. Unlike her grandmother, Sarah and her husband were distant before his death.Sarah, seeing that Old Depot was a source of contentment is trying to save the store. Her mother, who is hiding a diagnosis, is definitely insistent. Rosemary also wants to get Sarah back to Illinois, to a life she believes her daughter deserves.GA knows the store has seen better days, but it isn’t like it hasn’t seen bad days. She wonders what Clarence would do.Sarah should be grieving, but she is also realistic that her marriage was anything but idyllic. But, she’s also fighting a health issue as well and doesn’t want to believe what it could be.She meets Clay who is content to be her friend.Rosemary is shocked when her daughter announces she is staying in Brighton – permanently.Sarah learns more about the grandfather her mother never speaks of. She also finds a 1986 letter from a man to Glory Ann. A letter that is in Rosemary’s possession and is partially burned.It is Clay who helps Sarah – not only as an ear to listen, but to return home to Chicago to pack up her life.Glory Ann comes to a decision, but Sarah has a different idea.Sarah is determined to end the the secrets that have been in her family for a long time. And, the best way – the find the man who wrote the letter that her mother has been hiding for 35 years.Cox weaves a brilliant and masterful story that tugs at the heartstrings with heartfelt, sometimes witty dialogue, along with family dynamics that anyone can relate to.And, Cox relates a lesson that I’ve been hearing for over 20 years – we can’t change the past, but we can change the future, or choose a new tomorrow.While the book didn’t end the way I wanted, it was definitely a beautiful story that will likely resonate with some readers.A few notes of my own – there were some moments that parallel things I knew or had done. One is regarding Sarah trying to climb out of her playpen around age two (2). I was trying to go out the bottom and ended up destroying the playpen before I was a year old (1).Old Depot Grocery loosely reminded me of a store in my mom’s hometown of 29 Palms, California – The Alamo. It closed sometime in the early 2000’s.A man by the name of Benton owns a hardware store in Brighton, for many years there was a store by the name of Benton Brothers in 29 Palms as well. It too closed sometime in the 2000’s. These were a part of my childhood (as well as my mother’s), so I could relate to Sarah when it came to Old Depot Grocery.There were a few “typos” along with a few anomalies I noticed in this.** The Ford Cortina was sold in the UK along with other overseas markets, just not here in the U.S.** A reference about Rose not being Clarence’s “DNA”. Back in the day I heard it referred to more or less as “my blood”. It wasn’t until the 1980’s that “DNA” was used to established paternity in questioned cases. Though it is possible some did use the term back in the mid 1960’s.** “Elmo” is mentioned being on children’s clothing. The only Elmo I know is the one from Sesame Street. He debuted in 1980.These did not affect the overall enjoyment of the story but keen-eyed readers are sure to notice these historical “anomalies”.Since this is distributed by Revell, a primarily Christian/faith-themed publisher, there will be slight references to God and prayers. These are not that frequent and not integral to the story.SKODG is every bit engaging, heart-felt, emotional, and inspirational as The Edge of Belonging. With emotional dialogue and a story arc that sweeps over 55+ years, SKODG is a compelling and masterful story that illustrates the damages secrets can do over a lifetime or more.Readers who enjoyed The Edge of Belonging, will likely enjoy The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery.I’m eagerly awaiting the author’s next book.

[susan0316 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Old Depot Grocery has been part of a small Southern town for generations. This heart-warming story is told by three women - a grandmother, her daughter and her granddaughter in two different time periods. -Glory Ann in 1965. She found herself pregnant after her boyfriend was sent to Vietnam, Her parents were appalled and made plans for her to marry a friend of theirs even though Glory Ann had never even met him before. Her parents were very worried about saving face in their town. Clarence agrees to raise her baby as his own and appears to understand that she isn't in love with him. He is the owner of Old Depot Grocery and she and her two daughters - Rosemary and Jessemine. The entire family spends most of their time at the store.-Rebecca in 1982. Rebecca makes the decision to stay in town and help out at the store while her sister travels the world. She always felt that her mother loved her sister best but she was her father's favorite. Even though she stayed when she grew up, she always resented the town and was not happy with herself for making the decision to stay.-Sarah - Present Day. Sarah's husband has just died and she returns home. Her mother has always pushed her to leave town and do something with her life. She was not happy when Sarah told her that she intended to move back home to help her grandmother with the grocery.There is a new large grocery right outside of town and their business has gotten very slow. Rebecca wants to sell the store and Glory Ann and Sarah are fighting to keep it open. There is a lot of unhappiness between all of them. Rebecca felt that she was never accepted by her mother even though she stayed and Sarah and Rebecca don't get along because her mother always tried to get her to move away and doesn't understand her desire to move home.This dual time line story is about the problems between mothers and daughters and how secrets shape their lives and healing and understanding each other isn't possible until they tell their secrets to each other. This book is my first Amanda Cox story and I loved the way she wrote her characters and developed the story. This is a heart-warming story about mothers and daughters that finally learn the truth about each other's lives. I will definitely read this author again.Thanks to Revell books for a copy of this novel to read and review.

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When Sarah Ashby returns to her hometown she is a broken woman. Her husband has recently died and she is seeking some stability in her life. Sarah thinks working in her family's grocery store and being near her mother and grandmother can provide that. Her mother is excited to see her daughter but is aghast that she wants to start over back in her hometown - she needs a fresh start and to get far away from the tiny town and failing grocery store. However, Sarah insists on working with her family in the Old Depot Grocery - it has so many good memories for her! Told in alternating storylines from the present day with Sarah to the mid-sixties with Glory Ann (grandmother) finding out she is pregnant and her fiancé is never coming back from Vietnam. The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery is really about the ups and downs of mother daughter relationships and the power that secrets can have when they are allowed to fester for to long. Inspiring and heartfelt.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox involves three generations of Clearwater women. I thought the story was well-written with realistic, developed characters. It is a dual-timeline novel that is told from Glory Ann, Sarah, and Rosemary’s point-of-view. The story revolves the family grocery store began by Clarence Clearwater, Glory Ann’s husband. Each woman is at the Old Depot for a different reason. They have secrets that come to light over the course of the book. There is misunderstandings and miscommunications that do not help these ladies’ relationships. There are good life lessons presented in this generational saga. Forgiveness of others and oneself is the first one and the second one is that God is in control. We can worry, manipulate, scheme, and plan. In the end, it is best to leave it in God’s hands because His plans are the ones that will happen in the end. I liked that there was hope in the story. A person may be going through a tough time or grieving, but there was still hope to help get them through. I enjoyed the epilogue that nicely wrapped up this emotional, thought-provoking tale. There is something for each reader in this Southern story. The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery is a story that will linger with you long after you finish it.

[jkj94 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery is a very well written novel that tells the story of three generations of women’s secrets and memories. Cox connected all three characters viewpoints throughout it all, the story flowed quite well. I cherished each character, and she worked effectively of making everyone with their own personality. I fell in love with Cox’s writing and imagination when I read The Edge of Belonging so this definitely was a must read for me. Five stars hands down.I would like to thank Revell for a copy in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[grammy57 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was given to me to read and give my unbiased, honest review and here it is.I have enjoyed every book by Amanda Cox and this one is near the top of the list. She had merged yesterday's problems and secrets with today's problems and secrets in a very interesting way. The story goes back and forth in time to explain what is going on in these 3 generations of women's lives.It starts with the grandmother and goes through her granddaughter's early 20s. The story is mostly told from the view of the grandmother and granddaughter, but the daughter/mother has her times also. It is a Christian book and shows how faith and the lack of faith affect us. It also shows what happens when some secrets are kept or kept too long.I really enjoyed the book. It ended in a way that a second book could happen but doesn't have to. I would recommend this book. Very well written and edited.

[amybooksy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thought The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery was a fabulous read. I instantly felt an instant connection to both Glory Ann and Sarah. I was able to relate to them easily and understand what they were going through. Their story is one that had me captivated right the first chapter and my attention was held all the way to the end. I loved every single page.I am giving The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery a very well deserved five plus stars. Lovers of Historical fiction with dual timelines will definitely want to read this one. It is among one of my favorites I have read for the year. I would love to see where else Amanda Cox’s imagination will take her readers to next.I received a paperback copy of The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When I saw a new book by Amanda Cox I knew I had to read it, and I was not disappointed!What a tale we are gifted to, and it quickly became a page turner, a story that spans three generations, and the strong woman of one family.Life hasn't been easy for this family, from the beginning when Glory Ann's soulmate is sent to Vietnam, to the present when Sarah returns to the comfort of her family and the Old Depot Grocery, and place where little girls have spent their growing up years.Now the old grocery is in trouble, can it survive when the big box stores are closing in? Will these woman come to terms of the inevitable? Will closely held secrets finally be revealed? Yes, all of these questions are answered, and we have another book in this series to look forward to! Yeah!I received this book through the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

[mm_jones · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A quaint, faith based story of three generations of shopkeepers in a converted train depot. The main characters are likable although they do spend some amount of time manipulating the next generation. The small town gossip group adds a bit of levity. The depot setting plays a minimal role in the story, being featured in the title, I expected the location to be more relevant. Overall the family love, especially father for daughter, is evident.

[lifeofliterature · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Once again, Amanda Cox pens a novel that is rich with character development, realistic struggles, and spiritual growth that is hard to put down! I loved all the characters, but my favorite was Glory Ann and I loved the jump back in time as I learned more about her early life and her romantic past. The storylines fit together so well and I really enjoyed how the author crafted personalities that were similar enough to make their familial connection believable but also unique enough that each lady was interesting on her own. As always, the spiritual growth and testing and development of faith really shine in her novels. There is a romance in the book that is sweet and wonderful, but the focus is really on the changes in relationships between grandmother, mother, and daughter, which is wonderfully written. The descriptions are well written and I could easily envision the wood floors and piles of produce in the grocery. I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to more by this talented author!I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.