The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox | A Heartwarming Novel About Family, Forgiveness and Life in Small-Town America
*I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts below are my own and I was not required to post a positive review. Also, this blog post includes affiliate links. You can view my affiliate disclaimer here.
TIME SLIP NOVEL
Authentic & Heartwarming…The magic of motherhood, the depth of harbored secrets and the healing power of love and forgiveness encompass this beautiful, emotional new release.
Author Amanda Cox has masterfully woven an enriching story of love that transcends time and keeps her readers spellbound while her brilliant characters navigate ever-changing relationships, uncover deeply hidden secrets and embrace life in rural, small-town America.
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.
★★★★★ | Finding a story that completely encompasses my heart and mind, keeping me captivated through an entire afternoon and evening, is joy in one of its purest forms.
The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery is the embodiment of such a story. I simply couldn’t put it down! I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the richness of Amanda Cox’s characters, the essence of living in a small, rural town where everyone knows each other, and the revelation of secrets that three women held, changing their lives forever.
Related Post: Read my review of An Appalachain Summer by Ann Gabhart.
This beautiful story is about family, love, forgiveness and healing. The multi-layered characters were very well developed, easily relatable and thoroughly enjoyable. The novel was well-paced and I enjoyed the insight that was offered by slipping back in time to the beginning of Glory Ann’s story and how her secrets developed and impacted the lives of her daughters and eventually her granddaughter, leading to life altering consequences. There were bits of romance, forgiveness and faith woven throughout that strengthened this story and made it heartwarming while offering emotional depth. The accurate depiction of life in rural Tennessee, enhanced by southern phrases and idioms, lends authenticity to the novel and makes it that much more enjoyable.
The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery is a must-read recommendation from me! I believe readers who love heartwarming stories from authors such as Lisa Wingate and Lynn Austin will enjoy this new release!
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Photo Credit: © Emilie Haney | Image Courtesy of Baker Publishing Group
