What a fabulous read. Sure, the subject of the story is sad, but Kristina McMorris wrote such a wonderful story with characters that you really care for, that you are drawn into this book and you don't want to put it down. I loved the characters and all the layers they possessed. A very, very good book. A must read!!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy.

Sold On A Monday
Kristina McMorris

McMorris’s latest is amazing, historical fiction at it’s finest and based on a real photograph that once upon a time shocked America. This fantastic tale takes readers back to Depression Era East Coast America where a sign announcing “children for sale” draws a floundering reporter’s attention and the consequences that follow his taking the picture. Rich with era appropriate dress, attitudes and dialogue the author weaves a story of intrigue, mystery, tragedy and redemption while taking her audience through prohibition era speakeasies, exposing them to the many ethnic “mobs” of the time period and the tragedies children suffer when the ones who should protect them either can’t or won’t. The storyline is accurately imaginative and with a fluent narrative and realistically good-hearted characters that grapple with right and wrong readers will find it hard to put this best-selling-bound novel down. Fans of both historical fiction and literary fiction will fall in love with this offering. Master storyteller Kristina McMorris hits another one out of the park!
Brava!
SUMMARY:
A picture that never meant to be published starts a chain reaction of events that leads to tragic consequences.
All Ellis Reed ever wanted was to be a newspaper reporter and when his big break, the photo picturing a mother selling her children, was based on a lie he thought along with the advancements in his career he could live with that. When he learns the picture may have come true he needs to know how that happened and how much he’s to blame. He won’t be able to accomplish this alone and hopes he can convince the pretty secretary who befriended him to help.
Lily Palmer hoped to become the next Nellie Bly but being a single mother in 1931 doesn’t allow for that so to keep her son safe she has to keep him a secret and instead of reporting the news she has to be satisfied working as a newspaper editor’s secretary. It doesn’t mean she can’t give an extra budge to a story she thinks her boss will like but when one such story makes her complicit in a tragedy she knows she has to help make it right, she just has to decide how far she’ll go to go that.

Sold on a Monday is another one of those stories that's sure to tug at your heartstrings. The 1930's are certainly known as a difficult time for many in this country due to the Great Depression. Families had to make desperate choices in order to survive. This story was written from the point-of-view of two people who worked for the newspapers. What started out as a simple photograph quickly turned into much more, and Ellis and Lily seek to discover just how much of an impact it made on a small family.

To be honest, this story started out as one that was difficult for me to get into. After the initial photo was taken, part I of the story followed Ellis and Lily as they become more established in their careers. It wasn't until Part II that things really started getting interesting for me when the children were mentioned again. For me, I would have preferred that the story center around the children instead of also following the careers of Ellis and Lily.

Once the children became the focus once again, the story quickly gained momentum and I was anxious to find out what would happen. I was pleased that the answers weren't always easy for the characters, and that they had to actually work for the information they were able to gain. I was also glad that it was also unpredictable. There were moments when I had no idea what would be happening next. I like it when I can't figure everything out before it happens!

I understand that this was a secular book, and therefore had the chance of having some foul language, but I never find it appropriate to use the Lord's name in vain which happened several times throughout the story. I found it unnecessary and offensive.

Overall I enjoyed most of the story, and was even able to be surprised by several of the events. Once the children returned to the story it was one I didn't want to put down. As usual, I strongly recommend reading the author's note at the end. I was shocked how the author got her inspiration. While this story was completely a work of fiction, I was surprised that it was inspired by an actual photo that had circulated the newspapers in the past. It often adds more emotion to a story when you realize it's not entirely made up.

*I received a complimentary copy in hopes of an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

An engaging story with likable characters. There were points in the plot I found difficult to believe, but wanted to keep reading for the sake of the characters. I was invested in them and needed to know what happened next

I received an advance ebook copy from NetGalley to review.

From the prologue: "How nice it would be to leap forward by a week, a month. The unseemly rumors would have long been buried, the puddles of blood mopped clean, the outcome of this day endured."

With a beginning like that, one cannot help but think the story will not end well. But I will not offer spoilers.

It all started with a picture, a heartbreaking image of a sign offering children for sale. In the depths of the Great Depression, some families were forced into impossible situations.

The story follows two newspaper people, an up-and-coming reporter looking for a byline and a secretary looking for a chance to break into reporting, linked together by a photograph and the children in it. It's a compelling story that offers a glimpse into one of the toughest periods in American history. Other reviewers have offered fairly detailed synopses, and I will not duplicate their efforts. Just don't start reading this book late at night, as you will almost certainly stay up way past your bedtime reading it.

thank you, Net Galley, for the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an Historical book set in the 1930's Ellis a photographer takes photos of a sign 2 kids 4 sale. The photo ends up on the editor’s desk. Lillian, the secretary writes a story about the photo.

The mother thinks she is dying and selling her kids into a better life.
Both Ellis and Lillian are haunted by the story, which is shaded from the truth.

they set out to find the two children to make sure they are okay. This story is heart wrenching but very good.
The writing flows and I read it in two days. (life got in the way)
a good read

This is a historical look at what happened during the great Depression. It's an inside look at how hard life was during this time and the heart breaking decisions that people would do to survive. It provided a glimpse into organized crime in cities and the lengths people would do to get a head. There is the struggle that females endured to be able to have the same rights as men in the work place. The one thing that really stuck out through out the book in all facets is that family is #1.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a change to read this book in advance in exchange for this review.

I was so intrigued by the description and the cover (I know, I know!). Ellis Reed is a photographer in Philly during 1931 and photographs two young children that are for sale. He then writes a story about the hardships American families are going through, with the help of Lily the secretary. However, there are consequences.

I really wanted to like this book. It's well written and there's a great story to be told. However, I just could not get into it. I found a lot of it to be bland and felt so disconnected from everyone. It seems like this could have been a powerful book, but something is missing. It's not bad, but I had a hard time finishing. A lot of it is predictable.

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris is a delightful and harrowing historical rendition of the struggles endured during the Dirty Thirties. Feature writer for a Philadelphia newspaper, Ellis Reed, takes a picture of two children innocently playing in front of their farmhouse with an unfathomable sign in the background reading "2 Children for Sale." Lillian Palmer, secretary at the same newspaper, sees the intriguing photo and submits it to her boss and soon finds herself embroiled in a sticky situation with Ellis. Now they must undo the catastrophic mistake they've made. This photograph and the heartbreaking journey they embark on to discover what happened to the two children after they were sold change Ellis and Lilly's lives forever. If you like historical fiction, you'll really enjoy this read. I rate this novel 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review. https://moesbookblog.wordpress.com/

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.
It was an awful story (not the writing). I was upset by the events but all around the book didn't do it for me. Ellis was not especially great (not unlikeable just meh). He takes a picture of kids for sale, then needs another picture as it was destroyed, uses 2 other kids with the sign that was left. He ends up bringing money and some things. Eventually the kids are gone. They were actually sold.

There are 2 sides of the story and 2 point of views.

It was well written.

After completing his assignment for the society page, reporter Ellis Reed stops to take some personal photos of the area. One of these photos, that of a boy and girl next to a sign saying “2 Children for sale”, inadvertently ends up on the editor’s desk. The editor decides to use the photo and asks for an accompanying article. Before the original photo can be used, it is inadvertently destroyed. Ellis tries to find the children in the original photo and retake it. He learns they are no longer there but the sign is. He makes a decision to ask the mother of two neighboring children for permission to use her children and the sign. No one could imagine the far reaching consequences this would have. The mother, who believes she is dying, sells her children to a banker believing she is giving them a chance at a wonderful life after she is gone. The reporter, who moves to a new job in New York, continues to be plagued by the switch in photos unaware of what they set in motion. He and Lily Palmer, a young woman he met at his first job, and the one who mistakenly brought the photo to the editor’s attention in the first place, discover the mother is still alive. Not only is she alive but she had been misdiagnosed and now wants to be sure her children are being cared for and loved. This request sets in motion a quest to find the children; a quest that will be fraught with danger and will involve lies, mental illness and the world of the mob. Set during depression era America this read will make you ponder what you would do if you thought you were dying and the opportunity arose to give your children a good life after you were gone.

I was intrigued by everything about this novel; the photo, the title, and definitely the book description. I knew that I would love it and I was 100% correct!

It was such a wonderful read full of history, emotion, and substance. I fell in love with the characters and felt so many emotions towards each of them. My heart yearned for all four of those children, especially Ruby and Calvin.

I highly recommend this book, it is a perfect discussion or book club read. I was captivated when reading it and devoured every word. I loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for this advance reader copy!

This was such a great story. I was spellbound from start to finish. I will definitely have to go back and read Kristina’s previous novels. So glad that I got the opportunity to read this and be introduced to Kristina McMorris.

What a wonderful book! It was heartwarming, rich & captivating.

Inspired by an actual picture of children being for 'sale' during the Great Depression, reporter/photographer Ellis Reed snaps a photo of such a case. One hasty choice sends a cascade of falling dominoes that impacts not only Ellis' life & the lives of his photo subjects, but so many others around him...namely a coworker named Lily.

I found this story completely engaging. The characters were laden with virtues & flaws that gave each voice a richness & authenticity. For me it was a page turner, wondering where Ellis & Lily's investigations & efforts would lead them next & what kind of people they would encounter; and would those people aid or hinder their endeavors? The setting is perfect & it reminds the reader to view things not through modern lenses but those of the 1930's.

I have seen some reviews complaining that the story doesn't focus on or delve into the realities, struggles, hardships & hopelessness of the Great Depression & hence a lower rating. I don't agree with this assessment. Ms. McMorris' novel is 'set' in the Great Depression, not 'about' the Great Depression. There are elements brilliantly woven throughout that depict what society was like for all different kinds of and classes of people. It needs to be stated this is a character driven novel & that's where the focus lies. As someone with a Bachelor's in History, if it is the former you're looking for, I suggest you seek out a history book on the subject matter, not historical fiction set in the time period.

This is a wonderfully written tale. An enthralling story, with believable 3-D characters. Highly recommend.

What a heart-wrenching story. I love books that take place during the Great Depression and this one didn't disappoint. What I never considered is that families might have to sell their children in order to survive. This book is well written and it took me back to a time that I need to learn more about.

The Great Depression was a difficult time for many. Down on their luck, some people were quite desperate and unable to care for their children. Even knowing this, Ellis Reed was shocked when he saw a sign advertising the sale of the two boys, prompting him to snap some photos. Little did he know that his editor would see the photos and order him to write a story about it. When the photo is ruined and his boss sends him out to take more photos, Ellis finds himself in a dilemma as the children are no longer available. This leads Ellis to be creative in writing his story, unaware that it would have unforeseen consequences for both the family in his story and for himself.
Sold on a Monday is a brilliantly written historical fiction that captures the despair of the time and questions what people are willing to do to survive. It has wonderfully fleshed out characters and lots of action that keep you wanting to read more. I would love to read a second novel that continues on from the ending because I feel there is much more to tell about Ellis and Lily.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book, the opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks, I received an ARC of Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris in exchange for my honest review and I have to say, this was a fabulous read, especially if you are an enthusiastic fan of historical fiction such as myself! First, I just have to say that I loved McMorris’ writing style, which was tender yet vivid and her portrayal of the characters was really wonderful.

Set in Philadelphia and New York City during the early 1930’s, The Great Depression and prohibition has made life interesting, stressful, and chaotic, which provides an endless supply of story material for people in the newspaper business. Ellis Reed, and up-and-coming reporter spends all of his time trying to find “that story” which will help propel his career to the next level. When he photographs two children accompanied by a “Children for Sale” sign, he seems to have found just the story he was looking for. Ellis’ successful story advances his career right away, but also leads to many unforeseen consequences which affect many lives in many ways. Ellis must grapple with his choices and teams up with a friend harboring a secret of her own, Lily Palmer, to get to the bottom of things when it seems the children in the photos may be in trouble.

This story was great not only because of the mystery and historical elements, but also had romance and even a little bit of mobster activity (I mean come on, 1930s New York City!). What I found most interesting, however, was that McMorris wrote this book after seeing a REAL newspaper photo from Chicago 1948 depicting a mother, children, and a “Children for Sale” sign. After finishing the book, I read about the original photo further was so moved and surprised about this piece of American history.

4 out of 5 stars for Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris, which will be published on August 28th, 2018 and is available for Pre-order now!

I found this book to be too bland. I like historical fiction and expected this book to have more substance but it was the usual tale of 2 people falling in love with some references to places in Pennsylvania. It reminded me of a sepia film of the 1930s. It needed tinting to bring out the emotional colors of the individuals in the story. It would be a better tv script than a book.

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I chose this book, because I like historical fiction in general and this depression era story grabbed my attention. Ellis Reed a reporter for a local Philadelphia paper captures a picture of two kids on a bench with a sign “2 children for sale “ representing the desperation of families to feed their children, stay alive. However, but by the time the story appears in the newspaper, the photograph is different from the original. In spite of this fact, Ellis’s career skyrockets after publishing the “fake news” story. The rest of the book centers around Ellis’s effort to undo the heartbreaking damage that resulted from his story. He is aided in this effort by a colleague, Lily, a single mother who has her own secrets to hide.
In spite of the many four and five star reviews, I found the story totally contrived, couldn’t understand why Ellis and Lily did their own separate investigations until the end without the mother’s involvement rather than doing it together. The romantic part of the story was completely predictable, the Mafia involvement unnecessary, etc.
Overall, I feel generous giving this book 3 stars. One good lesson learned from this story, the devastating effects of “fake news”stories.
Thanks NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced copy.

I truly enjoyed this book. It is a story of desperation and what mothers were forced to do and the lengths they will go to for their children. I loved the story!