I was able to read the majority of “The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery” in one sitting, which worked well for Amanda Cox’s new novel. The dual timeline of this story unfolds as the characters live through secrets, loss, and love. These are the kinds of characters I’ll remember joining me on the banks of a north Georgia creek while my husband was fly fishing.
I loved the grocery store setting, which worked perfectly for a family legacy that was built on caring for each other and the community. Redemption and grace are part of this story that’s so well written. Cox’s words tell a story but, more importantly, capture feelings and experiences to which so many people can relate. There are so many beautiful nuggets of truth illustrated by Cox’s words.
This is the second book by Amanda Cox. I thoroughly enjoyed her first book, but this one may be even better. (Read my review of her book here!)
About the book
“The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery” is a 336-page paperback published by Revell (Sept 7, 2021). This fictional story explores the complexity of mother-daughter relationships, the way the secrets we keep shape our lives and the lives of others, and the helping power of telling the truth.
From the back cover:
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.
About the author
Amanda Cox is a blogger and curriculum developer for a national nonprofit youth leadership organization. She has a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. “The Edge of Belonging” is her first book. She lives in Tennessee with her husband and their three children. Learn more at AmandaCoxWrites.com.
*****
I received a free paperback copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.
Leave a Reply