I received this book "Sold on a Monday" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
As they say one decision can change your life and the lives of those around you. I thought this was a great book. I liked the characters and the setting. This book was a page turner for me and I couldn't wait to read each day. I haven't read much historical fiction but I will from now on. Heartbreaking story and you really feel the pain the characters are going through.

I received a free e-copy of Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris from NetGalley for my honest review.

I don't normally read Historical Fiction books, but this one caught my eye. I am so glad it did. What an exceptional read.

Sold on a Monday takes place during the depression in 1931. Ellis, a newspaper reporter for a Philadelphia newspaper, is out taking pictures of the countryside. She stumbles across a heartbreaking scene. Two boys that are being sold by their mother. Lillian, a secretary at the paper turns it into the editor who publishes it. Then things go terribly wrong.

I love how the story is told in third person with the points of view being told by Ellis’s and Lilly’s points of view. This book portrays a realistic view of the depression when people did whatever they had to to survive. This included selling their own children. Children were often sold by their parents in hopes that they could have a better life. A very vivid and heartbreaking read. I highly recommend this book.

An interesting read based off a picture from 1948 where four children were allegedly for sale. A roving reporter Ellis digs into this story along with working mother Lilly to retrieve two children who have been taken. The narrative shows what happens when times are stressful, tough decisions that have to be made, and a story that certainly would never be condoned in contemporary society.

Simply put I.LOVED.THIS.BOOK..If it weren't for the hour I would have read it straight through the night but still ended up finishing this within 24 hours. Heartwarming and all the more poignant as the impetus for the story was based on a real photograph that the author discovered on the computer. In this page turner of the highest order, the action begins 1n 1931 when a young reporter happens upon a house where two young boys are sitting. Near them scribbled in chalk was a sign, 2 children for sale. Horrified by the ramifications of this he snapped the picture, beginning the unraveling of what was to unfold. Enter Lily the Philly Examiner's secretary who saw the picture in the darkroom and brings it to the boss's attention. Lily has her own secrets that she has fought hard to keep from the general public, becoming another side issue to the unfolding story. When the photograph's original is destroyed, the reporter ends up staging the photo, leading to a domino effect that affects all participants.A wonderful story of family, a mother's love and the many paths to healing.

In her new book, Sold on a Monday, due out August 28, 2018, Kristina McMorris delivers her readers right smack into the middle the Great Depression of the 1930s. In doing so, she shows us how one small decision can change not only our lives, but the lives of others in ways we never imagined.

Just as reporters’ articles triggered our child labor laws, and novels of the past triggered safety regulations for meat packers, coal miners, and others, the characters in this novel expose for their audience the desperation of many families.

Sold on a Monday examines the cruelty of some adoptive “parents”, the mental illness of those who buy or steal children to replace a deceased child, and the double standard of that era for unmarried women with children. Through Lily Palmer, who has exemplary writing skills, but is kept in a secretarial position, McMorris also takes a look at the discrimination of women in the workplace that continues to this day.


Ellis reed is a young, yet-to-be-recognized reporter in 1931 Philadelphia. While out in the countryside, he sees two barefoot little boys in patched overalls sitting on the porch of a dilapidated house, playing a game. Above them, nailed to the front door is a sign that reads, “2 Children for Sale”. He quickly snaps a photo of the scene.

A co-worker, Lily Palmer sees the photo in the developing room, and shows it to their boss. The story Ellis writes to accompany the photo launches his career in ways he couldn’t imagine. When young man spills ink on the photo and its negative, Ellis tries to take another, but the family is gone. Taking the sign from the trash, he stages the photo with different children, and inadvertently creates a series of events for those children and their mother that he must make right.


The reader is reminded in a touchingly poignant way of the desperation felt by all but the very wealthy during those years. I highly recommend this book. You won’t be sorry you took the time to read it.

What Makes This Book Reviewer Grumpy?

The usual things:
• confusing bring with take;
• multiple split infinitives;
• beginning sentences with conjunctions.

Look for me online as The Grumpy Book Reviewer.

If you love historical fiction like I do, you will want to read Sold On A Monday by Kristina McMorris. The cover reminds me of The Orphan Train, one of my favorite books ever. When I read the plot of this book, I knew immediately it would be one to read and savor! HIGHLY recommended!

Synopsis:

Philadelphia, 1931. A young, ambitious reporter named Ellis Reed photographs a pair of young siblings on the front porch of a farmhouse next to a sign: “2 children for sale.”

With the help of newspaper secretary Lily Palmer, Ellis writes an article to accompany the photo. Capturing the hardships of American families during the Great Depression, the feature story generates national attention and Ellis’s career skyrockets.

But the photograph also leads to consequences more devastating than ever imagined—and it will take jeopardizing everything Ellis and Lily value to unravel the mystery and set things right.

Inspired by an actual newspaper photo that stunned readers throughout the country, Sold on a Monday is a powerful novel of ambition, redemption, love, and family.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Ellis Reed means well. He just needs to recreate a photo that he has already taken. No internet in those days.

Lilly Palmer knows what he did, but she has a secret of her own, so she won't tell.

Complications arise because they are both desperate and they are both attracted to one another, and mostly because they both don't want anyone else to get hurt.

Historical fiction at its' finest. Thanks to Kristina McMorris, author, Sourcebooks and NetGalley for allowing an advanced read in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of "SOLD ON A MONDAY" from NetGalley for an honest review. I wish to thank NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Kristina McMorris for the opportunity to read this book.

I am a total lover of historical fiction! I was so very excited to read this book, but was somewhat disappointed. I knew that the novel was loosely based on a picture, but the book was somewhat ludicrous in its storyline and just didn't do it for me. I prefer "heavier" historical fiction that is really fictionalized historical non-fiction (my made-up terminology).

I enjoyed the book and would give it a soft recommend for others who want to learn more about the early 1930's or an easy-to-read historical fiction book.

This is a book that I really couldn't wait to read but I just can't grasp what it is about and I tried several times to try to finish the book.

This is a book that makes a person think about decisions they would make when things get bad. It was a journey of how one decision leads you down a path and you come upon another path where another decision awaits.

I will be looking forward to future books by this author

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Historical fiction is always a genre I sometimes struggle with. However, this was a decent, quick read I've always had a love for photography and the stories behind pictures and this book is a story like that. It was inspired by a actual newspaper photograph taken in 1948 of a mother standing behind her small children with her head turned in shame and heartbreak and a sign that says Children for sale. I've seen the picture a number of times and its heart breaking.

The basis of the story is that a newspaper reporter (remember those?) took a picture of a Mother and two children that is based on the photograph I mentioned before. He bases a article around that picture and it is one of the most read articles of his career. But is there a moral issue here? Did he exploit that poor mother?

Would I say that my heart was breaking into a million pieces? I wish I could. I wanted it to, in fact I felt guilty that it wasn't breaking into a million pieces. It broke a little, but not as much as I would expected. Kristina McMorris is an excellent writer, but I felt something was lacking at least emotionally for me. Still a book I would recommend

Well, this is a book about troubling times. When the Depression came about, it ruined people and families. This book starts off with Ellis Reed finding two children with a sign that proclaimed they were for sale. He takes a picture of this and writes an article that goes with it. Unfortunately, that original photo and its negatives are ruined which makes Ellis go around looking for a similar photo. This starts off an unfortunate series of events.

This book was a brilliant read in the manner it portrayed life in during the times of the great depression. The writing, description brings forth a scene straight out of those times. Characters and the plot were absolutely well thought of and superbly written.

Definitely recommend.

Beautifully written saga of a sad time during the Depression in the United States. The characters come to life on the page and the mood of the country is vivid. A definite must read book.

3.5-star rating

Children for Sale

The sign sits on a porch in 1931. It's the time of broken dreams, lost fortunes and heartbreak. What a decision to make - to sell you children. This is the scene which journalist Ellis Reed comes upon while reporting on another story. He decides to take some pictures of the two boys sitting near the sign and wonders "can they read?" Do the boys know what is written on the sign? Heart wrenching and sad.

Lilian Palmer is a single Mother who hides the fact that she has a four-year-old son who resides with her parents and whom she visits every weekend. By chance she sees the photograph that Ellis has taken and decides to bring it to her boss's attention. When that photograph becomes damaged, a new photograph must be taken. That final photograph changes things for both Ellis and Lilian (among other characters) forever.

This book was a quick easy read but I found that the pacing lagged at times. I found it to be slow in the beginning, then picked up and then lagged again. My biggest complaint about this book is that even though the subject matter is heart breaking, I did not feel as if I had the emotional connection that I was expecting. I had high expectations for this book in that regard. Again, I was hoping for more of an emotional connection. Can you even imagine putting your children up for sale? What that must have felt like? The reasons and situation which led you to make such a gut-wrenching decision. What must it be like to know your parents are selling you? For the entire book I wanted to know what happened to those initial boys who sat by the sign on their front porch. Were they ever sold? What was their fate? The reader does not know as the story is no longer about them but about Ellis and Lilian and their quest to right a wrong they feel that they committed by taking the second photograph. I was also hoping for more POV's in this book so that I could feel more of an emotional bond with the other children, Ruby and Calvin and their Mother. For me, I wanted to know more about all the children in this book, their thoughts, feelings and emotions.
Still, this is an enjoyable book which paints a picture of what life was like during that time. Tough decisions were made during that time which affected everyone in the family unit. Her characters were likable, and I did root for them. There are situations in this book which do pull at the heart strings. The story does become a tad predictable and everything is wrapped up nicely in the end but ultimately, I wanted more.


Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I received a copy of Sold on A Monday written by Kristina McMorris from Netgalley and this is my review.

Definitely a very interesting read. I enjoyed every bit of it. I thought it might be too intense for me because it concerns children and terrible situations however it wasn’t as bad as I thought. The author didn’t make light of it,she included all of the facts without too much horror. The story takes place during the Great Depression and the author did such a great job with the characters’ language. It really was representative of that time period. There were many ups and downs throughout the story, I found myself unable to put it down many times. I highly recommend this story. The best part is that it’s based on true facts which is explained at the end of the novel. That makes it so fascinating.

Again, thank you very much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this copy. My honest review of this wonderful book is that of a "must" read one should not miss. I couldn't put the book down because of the characters when our country was going through the most distressing times. I loved the insight of the 30's, the life, the people and their struggle to survive. Even if it was for the childrens* benefit to be sold.

Considering the current political climate I wasn't sure about reading a book about children needing to be sold,so they could have a better life. The author did an amazing job describing the lives of all involved. Ellis had a estranged relationship with his father which motivated him throughout his life,only to find out the true reason for his fathers behavior. It was a turning point for Ellis,and it gave him the added push to reunite the children with Geraldine.
The role of women in the workforce,the expectations of their ability was written well, and showed that in some ways we haven't come as far as we thought we had.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading others by this author.

This is the book I have waited over two years for, the one I have most anticipated this summer! Five stars to Sold on a Monday!

I read Kristina McMorris’ last book, The Edge of Lost, the day my preorder arrived, which was the day before Thanksgiving 2015. I can remember that book on my counter a mere foot from where I was cooking. Any spare minute I had, the book was in my hands. It is one of the most perfect reads, and I have recommended it to many other happy readers since. When McMorris announced her new release, Sold on a Monday, I started counting the days. And the day finally came! Settling in to read a book by a favorite author; there is truly no better experience.

Inspired by an actual newspaper photograph that spread like wildfire, Sold on a Monday is set during the depression. Times are dire, and a hard-working reporter, Ellis Reed, is trying to scope out a story so he can earn his meager salary. He takes a photo of two young boys, while not at first noticing the sign on the front of the house noting the children are for sale. The photo is a big break for Ellis, who has barely been making ends meet as a sometimes society reporter fill-in. He turns the photo into a period piece representing the ruthless and heartbreaking times brought about by the depression. The way it all unfolds causes Ellis to find his ethics questioned, and it snowballs into something bigger.

Sold on a Monday is also Lily Palmer’s story. A young, unwed mother struggling to climb a ladder to somewhere with her job in a male-dominated profession (a male-dominated entire workforce, at the time), while also remaining employable period due to the stigma of her having a child out of wedlock. Working at the same paper, Lily befriends Ellis and becomes involved with his breakout story. Her own role as a mother further tests her ethics and pathos.

McMorris knows how to write characters I absolutely love. Ellis and Lily each have a genuine goodness within them that is palpable and a strong drive to do what is right. Of course the children of the story are written with care, and even the once workaholic stereotypical reporter, Clayton Brauer, has a softer side.

Sold on a Monday offered me a solid sense of what it was like to live in the 1930s, including the depression, the mob, prohibition, and the grim economic times. But more than that, it was about the alarming decisions people will make during desperate times. It is about right versus wrong and the search for understanding. It has mystery (a tiny cliffhanger at the end of most of chapters kept the suspense building), drama, and a sweet romance, all with helping children at its heart. For a book that had big shoes to fill, Sold on a Monday is revealing, powerful, and compassionate.

My review will be posted to my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com on or before pub date, and I will update my review with a direct link when I post it.

3.5 stars. Oh, that cover!!!

If my rating were based on book cover alone, this would be a 5+ star! Perhaps due to my intense attraction to that heart-wrenching cover along with the book blurb, my expectations may have been set a little too high. With that stated, it was still an enjoyable story, just much lighter and different than expected. It simply didn’t ‘pack the punch’ (thank you, Marialyce) that I was hoping for.

This novel follows Ellis Reed, a rookie employee in the newsroom who is trying to make a name for himself as a reporter. He is on a small assignment in a little town when his car breaks down and he finds himself taking a random photo of two young boys sitting on a rundown porch holding a sign “2 Children For Sale”. Though a completely random decision to take the photo, it is a life changing choice that leads to a long trail of consequences for Ellis.

The idea for this book came from an actual photo taken in 1948 showing four children sitting on their front porch steps with a sign saying “4 Children For Sale – Inquire Within”, their mother hiding her face in the background. My hope was that this would be their story. I wanted to know what would bring a mother to the point of selling her children. What happened to these poor, innocent children? The novel took a completely different path than I had anticipated which unfortunately felt like a letdown. I was craving the knowledge that could possibly explain this haunting photo. The story that did unravel through these pages was interesting, yet lacked the intensity and emotion I had hoped for. The first half of the book held my interest much more than the second half where I found that it became overly dramatic with a few too many things going on.

Overall, this was an enjoyable story that had a lighter tone than I had expected. I read this with my Traveling Sisters and we all felt quite similarly.

A big thank you to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and Kristina McMorris for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Expected Date of Publication: August 28, 2018.

At first I was a bit disappointed wanting to read about the kids but ones I got to know the characters I wanted to know about their lives and how they would proceed with some of the situations that occurred. The book is set during the depression year of 1931. It gives a solid reflection of that time period. The hardship people endured. The treatment of woman in the workforce and in general wat was accepted and not accepted as proper behavior.
To most us as a mother it seems hard to accept that somebody would be willing to sell their children but then it is still happening in this day and age. For whatever reason; desperation, better to sacrifice one so others might survive or simply greed or convenience.
All by all it was a very satisfying read and I do recommend when you finished the book you take the time to read the Author's Note and "A Conversation with the Author". I feel it adds to the story.