Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris #bookreview #tarheelreader #soldonamonday #bookgiveaway @krismcmorris @sourcebooks

What better way to celebrate a summer TGIF than with a review and giveaway of the book I’ve most-anticipated reading this summer from a favorite author to boot! *Giveaway Details Below! 

I read Kristina McMorris’ last book, The Edge of Lost, the day my preorder arrived, which was right 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.

My Thoughts on Sold on a Monday:

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 presence, prohibition, and the grim economic times. But more than that, it was about the alarming decisions people will make out of desperation. 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.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and the author for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own. Sold on a Monday will be published on August 28, 2018!

Synopsis:

From New York Times bestselling author Kristina McMorris comes another unforgettable novel inspired by a stunning piece of history.

2 CHILDREN FOR SALE

The sign is a last resort. It sits on a farmhouse porch in 1931, but could be found anywhere in an era of breadlines, bank runs, and broken dreams. It could have been written by any mother facing impossible choices.

For struggling reporter Ellis Reed, the gut-wrenching scene evokes memories of his family’s dark past. He snaps a photograph of the children, not meant for publication. But when it leads to his big break, the consequences are more devastating than he ever imagined.

At the paper, Lillian Palmer is haunted by her role in all that happened. She is far too familiar with the heartbreak of children deemed unwanted. As the bonds of motherhood are tested, she and Ellis must decide how much they are willing to risk to mend a fractured family.

Inspired by an actual newspaper photograph that stunned the nation, Sold on a Monday is a powerful novel of love, redemption, and the unexpected paths that bring us home.

***GIVEAWAY details! Today is the last day to enter to win a finished copy of Sold on a Monday over on My Instagram Page. I hope to see you there! ♥️

Have you read any books by Kristina McMorris, and do you have any favorites? Any other favorite reads you want to share with me? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR

Why, yes, I did have to put ALL THE FLOWERS around the iPad for a huggable book favorite! ♥️ 😂