This is the second book written by Amanda Cox. After reading her previous book, The Edge of Belonging, I couldn’t wait to read her next book. I loved this story! The author is one of my favorites. The characters were well developed and you become so invested in their lives. There are so many emotions threaded throughout the pages … love, loss, insecurity, family dynamics, forgiveness, and hope. Between the redemptive behaviors of Clarence and Clay, your heart will be warmed. The dual timeline was handled well and you will be pulled into both timeframes, travelling through the emotions each character experienced. The Old Depot Grocery brought back memories of going with my grandfather to the hardware store where he worked. I could remember the smell of the wood floors and sawdust, the clunky elevator, etc. The tears flowed down my cheeks as I immersed myself in this deep and heartwarming story. It is one to put at the top of your to-be-read list. I know that I will be anxiously waiting for the next gift of words this author will share with us.

Thank you to NetGalley and Fleming H. Revell Company for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Sarah, recently widowed, moves back to her hometown to escape the unhappy memories of her marriage and life in Chicago. Her mother, Rosemary, is co-owner of the Old Depot Grocery, along with Sarah's grandmother, Glory Ann. Each woman returns to the Old Depot with memories of the past. For Glory Ann, the Old Depot became a home filled with love. For Rosemary, it was an idyllic childhood and a grief-filled young adult life. For Sarah, it was always a sanctuary, though her mother never talked much about her grandfather Clarence. This small town store is the heart for each woman, but they need to open up and embrace it.
I liked the interaction between the women as they find their way in their relationships. Each one is keeping secrets to spare the others. They find, though, that the secrets separate them, more than save them.

The Secret Keepers Of The Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox is the most delightful Christian dual timeline novel that filled my soul with love.
The novel is set in present day and from 1965 working forwards. It is a story of family and love and life.
A character has been grieving her whole life for a boy who went to Vietnam and never returned. Life still kept turning and she had to learn to live again in spite of her grief. Grief never leaves us. We just need to find our way through it.
We witness the horrors of war in the lives of those who return. “How could they find normal after that? Love when they’d been baptized in hate.” Some lives buckle with PTSD and they escape through alcohol and drugs.
There is the theme of guilt. A character is drowning in it, carrying burdens that were never meant for her. “I’d become so tainted by darkness that I couldn’t feel the warmth of the sun anymore.” It is time to let go and let God.
Sometimes we revisit the past and that is fine but we must not dwell in it. “What-ifs won’t get us anywhere… We can’t change the past. But we can choose a new tomorrow.”
There is the theme of the prodigal son. There are two siblings, one who does exactly what she wants, and the other who stays close but resents her life. Both seem to be living lives of disconnection.
The old depot grocery store is a place of community. People come for the love and care they receive as much as to buy groceries. Love lives in the old depot grocery.
Our heritage is important. We need to celebrate the past whilst simultaneously moving into the future.
I absolutely adored this story. It spoke to my heart and filled me with love.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Loved this story!

Three generations of women with issues and secrets that they are keeping from each other and the journey to recognize that being open and honest is a better route for their own sanity.

I was drawn into this story from all perspectives and just when I thought I understood a character then the narrative would change and new information was thrown our direction.

The different time periods reflect the mentality of people and what was right or wrong that today would be no big deal. Those attitudes didn't help anyone and perhaps hurt more than they intended because it wasn't just a one-time decision, it was one that impacted many lives.

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.

Discover what happens when three generations of women begin revealing the secrets they have been keeping. Some are new, some have been hidden for 60-years, but all will serve to bring a family closer than it has ever been before.

I really enjoyed the time hopping in this book, in fact, the flashback segments were my favorite part. The modern segments felt too contrived and very Hallmark movie in nature. I love some Hallmark Christmas movies, but not so much in book form.

The author had some research errors, and some other inconsistencies that bothered me, but since I was reading an ARC (Thanks NetGalley), hopefully they fixed those before it went to print.

Overall, a solid 3-star read.

Reading this book is like a trip down memory lane. I'm old enough that I could very easily picture the Grocery. It was a thing way before the big supermarkets. The characters were easy to like and well developed. I thought the book was a bit slow for my tastes. But I don't know how I'd change it. So if you want a comfortable read that goes on forever, this book may be for you. It is definitely not fast-paced.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for an honest review.

Ever since reading Amanda Cox’s first novel, The Edge of Belonging, I’ve been eager to read more from this talented author. Her second novel, The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery more than lives up to my hopes for strong character development, complex relationships, and good storytelling.

Even the grocery store itself, named in the title, feels like a beloved character, with its creaky imperfections, history, and nostalgia. Its wooden floors, and kids running the aisles reminded me a little of a small local grocery store I know.

The dual timeline story unfolds gradually, as long guarded secrets are revealed and multiple generations come to understand and love each other better.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley. This review represents my own honest thoughts on the book.

This story is a 3 generation story that starts with Glory Ann. Glory Ann is in love and her fiance is sent over sea to the Vietnam war. Glory Ann receives the news that he has passed away. Glory Ann is unconsolabe and sick. Glory Ann finds out that she is pregnant and hides it from her parents. Her mother finds out and her father (a preacher) decides that Glory Ann must leave home. Her parents tell her they are going to visit some friends in the next town and she needs to go with them. Glory Ann's mother bows out of the trip so she goes with her father. They stop at a grocery store and go inside where her father introduces her to the shop keeper. It is then when her father tells her that they are to be wed. So begins the story of Glory Ann and her daughter Rosemary and her granddaughter Sarah. This is a book that you want to read in one sitting. The family dynamics draw you in and you feel for each character. This is a new to me author but I will look forward to reading more from Amanda Cox.

Author Amanda Cox did a great job writing this dual storyline novel. It was easy to follow from one timeline to another. This really isn’t my favorite genre. But I enjoyed The Secret Keeper of Old Depot Grocery. It had a great plot and characters that were likeable.
The main characters were three generations of women all with their own secrets and a history revolving around the Old Depot Grocery. This novel revolved around a theme of the harm that comes from keeping secrets and the joy of forgiveness.
This was my second novel I read of Amanda Cox. While to me it really didn’t seem to flow together as well as The Edge of Belonging. But still it provided a good read and I would recommend both books along with following any future books by this author.
I received a complementary copy of this book from Net Galley. It got my attention so much that I also purchased a copy. There were no obligations when receiving the complementary copy and the opinions expressed here are my own.

Just posted to Amazon, goodreads, BN

Such a moving story! The dual timeline really brings this story to a special place. My heart broke and yet was full of the love portrayed. Very well written. I will search out other books by Amanda Cox and keep looking for new ones.

I have anticipated this book for quite some time now. There was a promotional blurb in the back of Amanda's last book. It stopped with a bit of a cliff hanger It left me with the feeling that this was going to be a wonderful read and that assumption was correct.

The story itself revolves around three women, a mother, a daughter, and a granddaughter. Much of their life's work has centered around the Old Depot Grocery. But times are changing and forcing the women to change as well.

The women are connected by birth but there is something else that connects them. They each hold a secret that is slowly destroying them and their relationships with each other. So much heartbreak over things that could be solved if they would each come clean.

I loved this book and have quickly become a fan of Amanda Cox. She has a beautiful writing style that makes the pages just fly by. I highly recommend this book as well as her previous works.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

First sentence: Sarah nudged aside last night's puddle of clothes with her bare foot, the exposed designer label sticking out a bit too much.

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery is a multigenerational saga following three generations of women: Glory Ann (the grandmother), Rosemary (the mother), Sarah (the daughter). If you haven't guessed it from the title, these women each have secrets of varying significance.

Sarah Ashby, our "present day" heroine, has returned to her hometown after being widowed. She's distraught--but not for the reasons you might think. Hence the secret.

Rosemary Anderson, Sarah's mother and Glory Ann's daughter, has a secret as well. What she isn't keeping secret is her desire for her daughter to NOT come home. I'll rephrase that, Rosemary does NOT want her daughter's life to be limited by her small hometown. Not after she's "escaped" once. No, it would be better for Sarah (so she says) that she returns to the big city (Chicago) and go on living life to the fullest. She's also not keeping secret the fact that it is time to sell the family-owned grocery story, Old Depot.

Glory Ann Clearwater, Sarah's grandmother and Rosemary's mother, has a few secrets as well. She loves, loves, loves the store and cares deeply about her family. She adores Sarah. The two are like peas in a pod.

The book alternates time periods and narrators. The present day is almost always focused on Sarah. The past alternates between Glory Ann and Rosemary. The past starts in June 1965.

I really enjoyed so many things about this one. I liked the family. I loved, loved, loved, loved, LOVED Clarence Clearwater. He's a tremendous character. His story arc is HEARTBREAKING. I did enjoy watching these relationships build and rebuild. Plenty of substance.

Amanda Cox writes the most amazing stories; I felt like I was actually there with Glory Ann, Rosemary and Sarah! Exploring the complex mother-daughter relationships in a time-slip novel, I was captivated from the beginning. So many secrets kept from each other, and it’s not until Sarah returns to her childhood home that she begins to uncover not only the long-held secrets, but also facilitates the cleansing peace for herself, her mother, and grandmother. One of my favorite quotes is “We can’t change the past, but we can choose a new tomorrow”.

This book made me both laugh and cry, as it really tugged at my heart. I would recommend this to be put at the top of your TBR stack!

Thank you to Revell Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this with no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Glory Ann, Rosemary and Sarah are three generations of women who operate the Old Depot Grocery in small-town Brighton. As they reconnect, the women realize that they each keep secrets from themselves and each other. They also fight about selling their store. The thought of selling pleases Rosemary who felt trapped there but Nan holds deep memories of the store, and Sarah dreams of running the place one day. What will happen to each woman and their relationships when the truth is revealed?
Told with dual-timelines and alternating narrators, the story unfolds across decades. It deals with topics like anger, resentment, love, trust, and family. I appreciated the insightful look at grief, mother-daughter relationships and trauma. I also enjoyed the clean storyline and mystery. But the book is fairly boring in places, a bit preachy and saccharine sweet. Of course, everything turns out good in the end.

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.

Glory Ann, Rosemary, and Sarah are three generations of women in a small Tennessee town. Their lives have centered around the Old Depot Grocery, which was started by Glory Ann's husband Clarence (who is a wonderful example of kindness and compassion) but is now in danger of closing. Alternating between Glory Ann and Rosemary in the 1960s and 70s, and Sarah in the present, the story provides a poignant look at how these women deal with regret, guilt, and the consequences of keeping secrets as they try to preserve Clarence's legacy and pursue their own dreams.

Sarah, Rosemary and Glory Ann are three generations of a family that has always ran a small grocery store in a small rural town. Sarah got married and moved away but now she is back and anxious to bo at "home," which means the Old Depot Grocery store. Rosemary stayed all her married life and helped her mother run the store but she is wanting to sell out and do something else for a change. Glory Ann has run the grocery store all of her adult life, first with her husband (now deceased) and then with her oldest daughter. She isn't ready to let it go.

This is a wonderful story about family, small town living, hurts and healings. I would recommend this to anyone! Put it on your reading list. You won't be sorry.

I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I received a free electronic ARC of this southern historical novel on September 14, 2021, from Netgalley, Amanda Cox, and the Publisher Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Amanda Cox writes a fine tale with personable characters and an intricate storyline that will keep you hooked till the end.

Told by three generations of Clearwater women, this well-researched historical novel will take you to 1965 through the voice of Glory Ann, a young woman who finds out she is pg after her fiance Jimmy leaves for VietNam and Jimmy is killed in the first week of his service there. Forced by her preacher father into a marriage of convenience, Glory Ann carries on, helping her husband Clarance with his grocery store in the Old Depot building in this small southern Tennessee community. We see the dynamics between Glory and her daughter Rosemary, Glory's growing love for Clarance, and then we follow the story from Rosemary to her daughter Sarah, widowed now in the current time, with a whisper of the secrets kept by each generation, and the repercussions of same. The generational growth of the community, the loosening of the strictures expected of the women and girls, the mores of each succeeding generation are laid bare, as are the alternate choices of these exceptional ladies. We "have come a long way", ladies. Only history will tell us if that is a good thing or a tragedy.

Amanda Cox writes a beautiful, flowing story that will touch your heart. I am adding her to my must-reads list. She is an author I will recommend to my nieces. She writes a clean tale without preaching.

I loved this dual-time gem! A raw mother-daughter novel, not only of Sarah and Rosemary, but Rosemary and Gloria. A story of how love can heal imperfect relationships formed by secrets and a dark past. When things don't go as planned, good changes can occur with people who stand by you, blood related or not. I can't recommend this page turner enough!