Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris is a historical fiction read in which the idea came about from a real photograph the author found advertising children for sale. The ideas are all fictional within the book though with even moving the time frame to that of the great depression.

I’m not one that reads a ton of historical fiction but the cover and title of this book certainly calls out to readers even at a glance. Without even opening the book it would be hard to not feel the emotion simply coming from the cover itself when it comes to trying to fathom any reason a parent could want to sell their child.

The book follows Ellis Reed, a reporter that happened upon the children and took a photo of them and the sign advertising their sale while looking for inspiration. And then there is Lillian Palmer who worked at the paper and saw Ellis’ photo and couldn’t help but want to know more. As Ellis’ story hits the papers the book then follows the characters from there but the children are never forgotten from that moment.

Kristina McMorris did a wonderful job taking readers back into history painting a vivid picture of the time period. I did find myself getting a little concerned when the story seemed to move completely away from the children for a little bit in the book and wondered where it was headed. However, the author brought it back around with a lot of character growth and then diving even deeper into the emotional pool and tugging at the heartstrings showing the struggles of the era quite well. Definitely one I’d recommend checking out for the historical fans.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was a wonderful story. I love that the author explained at the end, how she came up with the idea for the book. The characters were very real and I definitely felt like the time setting and everything felt right. I love reading books from that era and she did a great job bringing it to life. I will recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author! I’m so happy that Netgalley approved me this terrific book.

I was totally captivated by the cover and title. After reading the blurb, I knew this was a must read for me. This book was inspired by a real photo that was taken in the 1930's. This is a story of repercussions that follow a bad decision. It tells of desperation and heartbreak. It is also the story of a journey to correct wrongs. While I did not agree with some of the decisions the characters made, the author gave us characters with which the reader could empathize. There are so many insights into the many relationships we share in life, not only romantic, but familial as well that the reader will find endearing.
Ms. McMorris is a new to me author. I thought her writing was superb, with prose that deftly conveys the reader into the 1930's Depression era setting where many were unemployed, desperate to provide food and shelter for their families. It is sent against a vivid backdrop filled with shady politicians, prohibition and gangsters. While at times heartbreaking, the plot is fast-paced as it moves to a heart-warming conclusion.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley.

Sold on a Monday, the title tells you the premise right there. However, the writing is great. This book is told in a dual perspective. We follow a young man trying to build his career as a journalist. It is set in the 1930's during a time when many were trying to recover from war. It also follows a young female who longs to be a writer for a newspaper column but due to choices she has made finds herself as a secretary at a newspaper instead.
There are many elements to this story but as we get to know our male character and our female character, we see a depth to each one of them and how their family life and choices in life shaped them into who they are in this story. I love the drama and the suspense of what might happen and the urgency that comes about. It is a book that will tug at your heartstrings as we hear of a family torn apart due to the need for money and a desire to do what is best.
There is a lesson to be learned about making amends for mistakes. It shows us that our actions may have far reaching effects on our own lives as well as others. Those things are not easy to fix and can even bring about deadly consequences. I love the healing that takes place in several families. This author was able to really give you an understanding of who our main characters are and as a reader it is so easy to really become attached to them.
I enjoyed this book so much. It is definitely a new favorite for me. It is very well written and is a page turner.

Ellis Reed makes a selfish bad decision and spends the next year trying to right it. His photograph of two boys under a sign reading Children for Sale is set to be published when it and the negative are ruined. Because he wants his nascent journalism career to move forward, he uses the same sign with two other children- Ruby and Calvin- and the resulting compelling photo causes a cascade of problems. Lily, his co-worker, has her own secret- a son Samuel. She's working as a secretary but wants to be writer as well. These two team up to find the kids, whose mom could not care for them. There are some very good twists in this, a lot of emotion, and all in all, it's good storytelling. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is for fans of historical fiction.

Sold on a Monday is an interesting historical story of a terrible time in history for much of the world. Poverty was rampant. The story is a bit slow but keeps the reader's attention through to the end. This is my first novel by Kristina McNorris and it did not disappoint. The very first thing that caught my attention about this book was that amazing cover.

I was given this book by NetGalley for review. I enjoyed it.

Sold On A Monday is a heartbreaking story of a reporter's quest to get ahead and a mother's love for her children. During the Great Depression, Ellis snaps a picture of a sad scene. Two small boys sitting in front of a ramshackle house with a sign, "Children for sale". He turns the picture and an article into the newspaper and things go from bad to worse. What happened to those children? Sold On A Monday is based on a real picture taken during the Depression. This book had me flipping pages til the end!

Kristina McMorris's Sold on a Monday has all the feels and I give it a very strong 5 stars. There is so much to love about this book. Happiness, heartbreak, friendship, love between siblings, love between parent and child. You will be rushing from page one to the end as you will not be able to put this one down. Remarkable characters that you will relate to and cheer for. Coming 8/28.

When Ellis Reed’s car broke down, he took the opportunity to take some random photos with his work camera. It was 1931 and Ellis was a reporter, struggling to find the “big” story which would catapult him into the realm of popularity that he desired – of course the extra money wouldn’t go astray. Those photos that day weren’t meant for publication; just for his own catalogue. But Lily Palmer, secretary at the same paper, spotted a photo in the darkroom; a sign saying 2 children for sale with two young children also in the frame. She felt in her gut that it was an important story that needed to be told. Little did she realise what she would unleash that day…

The picture and its accompanying story were shown all across the countryside. Ellis found himself in demand; all the while the tinge of guilt tugged at his mind. And Lily felt the same dilemma – what could they do about what they had released that day? The trauma and tragedy – and at the centre, two small children; confused and saddened.

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris is a tragic tale prompted by an actual photograph in a newspaper of four young siblings huddled on the steps of an apartment building in Chicago in 1948. “4 children for sale, inquire within”. The Author’s Note at the end of the book is interesting, but shouldn’t be read prior to the novel, as there are spoilers included. The gut-wrenching decision when a parent is faced with no food on the table is unimaginable. Completely heartbreaking.

My only issue was, during the first third of the novel – after the picture - I almost put it aside, as it was nothing like what I had expected the story to be; I was becoming bored. But then the story ramped up and became the intense, intriguing, heartbreaking novel I expected it to be! Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was good - not perfect, but good. It took me a little bit to get into, but once I did, I didn't want to put it down. I really loved the mystery of what happened to the kids, and I totally respected the mom for the reasoning, which I didn't think I'd be able to do at first. All in all a good read! 4 stars (one removed for the slow beginning).

I would like to thank Netgalley and Sourcebooks and Landmark for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say that this book was not what I thought it would be. Just from the title and description I was bracing myself for a tear jerker and a boat load of heartbreak. While there was some of that it just didn’t have that effect. I guess I thought it would follow the children and not the reporter throughout this story.

As for the story itself, it was very well written and I love how it came about from a picture of two children who were actually for sale. I like how it depicted the era such as the poverty during the depression and the lengths that people went to, to survive. It was during a time when child labor laws were put in place and told of the terrible stories that happened to children who were working in mines. It tells of the stigma behind being an unwed mother. How she would have to hide her child. Last the realness of being a reporter in that time.

This is somewhat of a romance as well. So this book has a little bit of everything for everyone.
I guess with my preconceived notion on what I thought it would be about and feeling a little let down in that regard, I didn’t feel as connected to this story. I’m still going to rate it high because it was a good story.

Along with it's captivating and heart wrenching photo on the cover, the description for this book had me quite intrigued. I expected a historical fiction piece that centered around the children who were sold by a desperate family hopefully so the children could have a better life but quite possibly because they just simply could not provide for the children. However, the book did not really focus on the children but instead on the reporter who took the photograph. In that I was disappointed but mainly because I expected a different story. This period piece instead deals more with the reporter and a secretary at his newspaper who has higher ambitions than that of a secretary. Filled with plenty of other plot lines, the children are only a piece of the story rather than the focus as I expected. And while I could have appreciated the story as it was written, I had difficulty connecting with the main characters. Even so I would have preferred a bit more of a conclusion to wrap up the story, just to know if Ellis and Lily did indeed get together.
One thing I did really enjoy was the author's note concerning her inspiration for the book and the photograph that started it all. I always find it interesting to discover where an author gets their ideas for novels.

This was a good historical fiction read. It took me a little while to finish and wasn't my favorite, but overall had was pretty interesting and an easy light enough read. I was expecting it to have more of an impact on me given the topic of children being up for sale, however I never did get that emotionally invested into the story. The romance in it was very innocent and for the time frame I wouldn't expect anything less however some aspects of the romance parts threw me off, like the engagement. I felt like Clayton was a total unnecessary character, but I get why he was thrown in. The central theme was around family and all the different characters family dynamics which were all completely, but still had the same foundation every family has, love. I think that's what held this book together and made me want see how all the families turned out in the end.

As a mother, this book was heartbreaking. As a historical fiction reader, this book hit all the check marks. Just a fantastic read overall.

Fantastic novel about how an innocent picture and news article can chance the loves of many. The story of Ruby and Calvin, two children who ultimatly pay the price of this picture. Their mother Geraldine, whom felt like she didnt have any other options. Ellis and Lilly will stop at nothing to find out the truth and right their wrong.
This book reminded me a bit of "Before We were yours" by Lisa Wingate. The children were stuck in situations it's hard to even believe. They were forced to endure hardship due to adults and still amazed me that situations like this actually happen!

loved, loved this book. Kristian McMorris is a new author to me and I just couldn't get enough of it, finished it in one weekend!

I have to admit that my favourite period in history has got to be 1900-1950s. Unfortunately, I hardly read about them except when reading about the atrocities of World War II, I decided to remedy that by picking up Kristina McMorris’ Sold on a Monday.

The 1930s were characterised by prohibition, bank runs, breadlines and impossible choices, Desperation led a parent to scrawl the sign “ 2 Children for Sale”. Struggling reporter, Ellis Reed captures a picture of this sign not meant for publication because the image reminded him of his own childhood. Co-worker Lillian “Lilly” Palmer resonates with the picture and sees its potential for something greater. However, the image leads to unintended consequences that change their future.

Sold on a Monday has the makings of the next bestseller. As the blurb at the back of the book states, “This touching novel explores the tale within the frame and behind the lens-a journey of ambition, love and the far-reaching effects of our actions.” Knowing that this book was inspired by an actual newspaper photo, the story tugged at my heartstrings, even more, It was clear that McMorris went all out researching because I was immediately transported to 1930s New York and Philadelphia.

Readers will be able to empathise with Ellis and Lilly’s ambitions to make something of themselves with a number of odds stacked against them. Sold on a Monday will be great for readers who love family dramas, stories from the Great Depression and mobsters.

Sold on a Monday is an interesting historical study/story of a terrible time in history for much of the world. Poverty was rampant. The way the story plays out through the eyes of the two journalists is an interesting way to view it and it plays well. The story is a bit slow but keeps the reader's attention through to the end. Good historical detail.

This is my first novel by Kristina McNorris and it did not disappoint. The very first thing that caught my attention about this book was that amazing cover. Not even knowing what the book was about, you have to look at it for that reason alone. Then when I read the premise of the book I knew it was one I could not turn down. 

This is a haunting fictional story that is based on a real picture published in the newspaper a long time ago of kids sitting on their front porch with a sign that reads "children for sale". My first thought is how could a mother even think of stooping so low??? Don't be so quick to judge. This story shows you how one decision can have a domino effect on the lives of many others. One bad decision can rip apart a family, forever change the landscape of a child's safety, of their future. One decision can have you question your morals, your ethics, and who you are and want to be as a human being. 

Sold on a Monday is a captivating,riveting and engrossing page turner that explores these decisions and their ramifications - the good, the bad and the ugly. It will touch your heart, make you believe in love and the power of a hero. It will make you question "What would you do" in the same situation. To what lengths would you go to save a child. And will possibly make you question past judgements. Times were tough in the 1930's and families just wanted to provide a good home for their children. 

The author does a great job with character development and keeping the story engaging and moving at a good pace. This subject is a sensitive and delicate one, and I like the angle the author chose to take this story, which has some nice twists,turns and surprises. This may have been my first book by Kristina McMorris but definitely won't be my last. 

My thanks to Netgalley, Kristina McMorris and Sourcebooks Landmark publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Truly, this story has movie-making potential. The setting is 1931, and families are still hurting from the stock market crash of 1929. It was not uncommon for children to be farmed out to relatives or dropped off at orphanages and such with hopes that someone will take them in and take care of them. The darker side, of course, is that children may be sold. Although babies might be adopted and raised as real family, older girls would oftentimes be put to work as nannies, seamstresses, maids, or worse, and boys might work as farm and field hands or as mine or factory workers, or worse.

It all started when Ellis Reed, a Society and women's page reporter for the Philadelphia Examiner, is assigned to write a feature story based upon a photo he took of two young boys sitting on the farmhouse porch next to a sign advertising "2 children for sale." When the original print and negative are damaged just before it was to go to press, Ellis has to return to the site to recreate a replacement, but discovers that the family has moved on. As an alternative, he pays a neighbor mom to allow him to stage and take a similar picture of her two young children with the intent that it will merely act as a representation of the plight of many struggling families.

The story also follows the plight of Lily, a secretary for the Philadelphia Examiner who is relegated to a job--such as getting coffee for her boss, making personal restaurant reservations for him and his wife for their anniversary, etc. (you get get the picture)--instead of one that is a reflection of her true talents which is an aspiring columnist. When she takes initiative and shows her boss some of her sample writings, he misconstrues it as her being unhappy with her job. Also, Lily is an unwed mother who was made to feel that she cannot share that information in order to obtain and keep her job.

I am generally drawn to dark psychological thrillers and I almost passed on the opportunity from NetGalley to read and review this book before its official release. I am so glad I didn't. This is an impressive work, and as I was reading it, I felt that it could be easily adapted into a movie. Well done!