Release Day! The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris ~ My Thoughts #TheGirlsOfGoodFortune #KristinaMcMorris @KrisMcMorris @NetGalley

Happy Release Day!

Congrats Kristina

on the release today of 

The Girls of Good Fortune!

The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris

Historical Fiction, 416 pages

Published May 20, 2025 by Sourcebooks Landmark

From the New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday and The Ways We Hide.

She came from a lineage known for good fortune…by those who don't know the whole story. 

Portland, 1888. Amid the subterranean labyrinth of the notorious Shanghai Tunnels, a woman awakens in an underground cell, drugged and disguised. Celia soon realizes she's a "shanghaied" victim on the verge of being shipped off as forced labor, leaving behind those she loves most. Although well accustomed to adapting for survival—being half-Chinese, passing as white during an era fraught with anti-Chinese sentiment—she fears that far more than her own fate lay at stake. 

As she pieces together the twisting path that led to her abduction, from serving as a maid for the family of a dubious mayor to becoming entwined in the case of a goldminers' massacre, revelations emerge of a child left in peril. Desperate, Celia must find a way to escape and return to a place where unearthed secrets can prove even more deadly than the dark recesses of Chinatown.

A captivating tale of resilience and hope, The Girls of Good Fortune explores the complexity of family and identity, the importance of stories that echo through generations, and the power of strength found beneath the surface.

  

My thoughts about The Girls of Good Fortune ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"Pingshu. It's what the Chinese call 'the art of storytelling.'"

The Girls of Good Fortune is a story of heartache, strength, and perseverance. Celia is a half-Chinese women who has a good job working for an upstanding family. She thought her future was all good, until it wasn't. When she is sent away, her life spiraled. 

The book starts with a young woman trapped in a cell, not knowing how or why she is there. Told in two timelines that eventually converge, the reader finds out the back story of the woman and discovers how she came to be there. Celia is an amazingly strong, righteous women who endures a lot to get back to where she belongs. 

This was a tale that captured me from the very first chapter and kept me enthralled until the very satisfying ending. I have read several of Kristina's books and she has now become one of my must-read authors. I will be excitingly waiting for her next book to be published. I highly recommend The Girls of Good Fortune if you love historical fiction, and if you are a fan of Kristina's, you will not be disappointed.

I received an ARC of The Girls of Good Fortune and this is my honest opinion of the book.

About the author

Kristina McMorris is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of two novellas and seven historical novels, including the million-copy bestseller Sold on a Monday and, most recently, the instant international bestseller The Ways We Hide, selected as Target’s top-five reads of 2022. 

A recipient of more than twenty national literary awards, she previously hosted weekly TV shows for Warner Bros. and an ABC affiliate, beginning at age nine with an Emmy Award-winning program, and owned a wedding-and-event-planning company until she had far surpassed her limit of "Y.M.C.A." and chicken dances. 

Kristina splits her time between San Diego and Portland, Oregon, where she’s the proud mom of two teenage boys who recently stripped her of her longstanding boast of being “tall for an Asian.” For more, visit KristinaMcMorris.com ~ Goodreads

Connect with Kristina

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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The Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris ~ My Thoughts #TheWaysWeHide @KrisMcmorris @Sourcebooks

The Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris

World War II Historical Fiction, 496 pages

Published September 6, 2022 by Sourcebooks Landmark

From the New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday comes a sweeping World War II tale of an illusionist whose recruitment by British Intelligence sets her on a perilous, heartrending path

Raised amid the hardships of Michigan's Copper Country, Fenna Vos has learned to focus on her own survival-even now, with the Second World War raging in faraway countries. Though she performs onstage as the assistant to an unruly escape artist, behind the curtain she's the mastermind of their act. After all, her honed ability to control her surroundings and elude entrapments, physical or otherwise, reliably suppresses the traumas of her youth.

For all her planning, however, Fenna fails to predict being called upon by British Intelligence. Tasked with creating escape tools to thwart the Germans, MI9 seeks those with specialized skills for a war nearing its breaking point. Fenna reluctantly joins the unconventional team as an inventor. But when a test of her loyalty draws her deep into the fray, she discovers no mission is more treacherous than escaping one's past.

Inspired by stunning true accounts, The Ways We Hide is a riveting story of love and loss, the wars we fight-on the battlefields and within ourselves-and the courage found in unexpected places.

My thoughts about The Ways We hide ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first line.)

First line—"Deep within me, a sense of dread buzzes and crackles, an electrical wire threatening to short."

Kristina McMorris is such a good storyteller and I knew The Ways We Hide was going to be another great adventure. I have really been reading a lot of stories about World War II lately and this is one of the best I've read. 

The characters are woven together expertly with an unusual main character, a female escape artist. Fenna is called upon to help out her country using her special skills. Little did she know how entrenched she would become in the whole espionage world that she found herself dropped into. 

The Ways We Hide is based on a true story and it truly is amazing to read about all of the heroic people who helped others survive during the war. Ms. McMorris has done a wonderful job of taking the story of a courageous woman who went to great lengths to help, making it a tale that I became so wrapped up in that I felt like I was there - feeling the terror, drama, and happiness right along with Feena. 

This is an excellent read for all lovers of historical fiction and I highly recommend it!

I received a copy of The Ways We Hide from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion of the book.

About the author

Kristina McMorris is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of two novellas and six historical novels, including the runaway bestseller Sold On a Monday with over a million copies sold. The recipient of more than twenty national literary awards, she previously hosted weekly TV shows for Warner Bros. and an ABC affiliate, beginning at age nine with an Emmy Award-winning program, and owned a wedding-and-event-planning company until she had far surpassed her limit of "Y.M.C.A." and chicken dances. 

Kristina lives near Portland, Oregon, where she somehow manages to be fully deficient of a green thumb and not own a single umbrella. For more, visit www.KristinaMcMorris.com ~ Goodreads

Connect with Kristina

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

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This OR That #Giveaway № 57 ~ Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris OR The Little French Bridal Shop by Jennifer Dupee #TheLittleFrenchBridalShop #SoldOnAMonday

 

I have sooooo many books!

The This or That Giveaway! feature that I post every Saturday is a way for me to cull my collection and to share some of the many books I have. I get to clear off some of my shelves to make room for more books and give someone else the chance to enjoy these treasures.

Good luck and be sure to stop back next week!

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Sold on a Monday

by Kristina McMorris

Paperback ~ Pub date August 2018

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

2 CHILDREN FOR SALE

The scrawled sign, peddling young siblings on a farmhouse porch, captures the desperation sweeping the country in 1931. It’s an era of breadlines, bank runs, and 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 the image leads to his big break, the consequences are devastating in ways he never imagined.

Haunted by secrets of her own, secretary Lillian Palmer sees more in the picture than a good story and is soon drawn into the fray. Together, the two set out to right a wrongdoing and mend a fractured family, at the risk of everything they value.

Inspired by an actual newspaper photo that stunned readers across the nation, 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.

Read my thoughts here.

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The Little French Bridal Shop

by Jennifer Dupee

Hardcover ~ Published March 2021

Jennifer Dupee's debut novel is a delight...a story about discovering your authentic self when things get hard, and the joys you can find when you live from your heart. --Louise Miller

Is a lie of omission still a lie? Larisa Pearl didn't think so and it got her into a heap of trouble.

When Larisa Pearl returns to her small seaside hometown in Massachusetts to manage her beloved great aunt's estate, she's a bit of an emotional mess. She's just lost her job and her boyfriend and she's struggling to cope with her mother's failing health. When she passes by the window of The Little French Bridal Shop, a beautiful ivory satin wedding gown catches her eye...

Now, to the delight of everyone in town, Larisa is planning her wedding. She has her dress, made floral arrangements, and set the date. The only thing missing is the groom. How did this happen? All she did was try on a dress and let her fantasy take flight. But word about her upcoming nuptials has reached the ears of Jack Merrill. As teenagers, they spent time together on her great aunt's estate, building a friendship that could have become something more had they chosen different paths.

Lost in a web of her own lies, Larisa must first face some difficult truths, including her mother's fragile future, before she can embrace her family, straighten out her life, and open her heart to finding love.

Read my thoughts here.

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This or That Giveaway Week 43 ~ Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris OR The Moonshiner's Daughter by Donna Everhart #SoldOnAMonday #TheMoonshinersDaughter

 

I have sooooo many books!

The This or That Giveaway! feature that I post every Saturday is a way for me to clear my shelves and to share some of the many books I have. It's a way for me to cull my collection and give someone else the chance to enjoy these treasures.

Gosh, this past week was not at all what I expected it to be! I had this post ready to go last weekend and just needed to make it go live. In the post, I apologized for not being very active in a while. I  took a bit of a break over the holidays, spent time with family and got a lot of reading in. Well, last Saturday I ended up in the ER with blood clots in both lungs. I had a nice 4-day hospital stay and am now on blood thinners for life. This is my second instance of clots.  

So needless to say, blogging took a back seat. But I’m back now and have two wonderful books to offer this week! I loved both of them! They are both historical fiction and the stories have stayed with me long after I finished reading them. 

Good luck and be sure to stop back next week!

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Sold on a Monday

by Kristina McMorris

Paperback ~ Pub date August 2018

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

2 CHILDREN FOR SALE

The scrawled sign, peddling young siblings on a farmhouse porch, captures the desperation sweeping the country in 1931. It’s an era of breadlines, bank runs, and 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 the image leads to his big break, the consequences are devastating in ways he never imagined.

Haunted by secrets of her own, secretary Lillian Palmer sees more in the picture than a good story and is soon drawn into the fray. Together, the two set out to right a wrongdoing and mend a fractured family, at the risk of everything they value.

Inspired by an actual newspaper photo that stunned readers across the nation, 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.

Read my thoughts here.

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The Moonshiner's Daughter

by Donna Everhart

Paperback ~ Pub date December 2019

Set in North Carolina in 1960 and brimming with authenticity and grit, The Moonshiner's Daughter evokes the singular life of sixteen-year-old Jessie Sasser, a young woman determined to escape her family's past . . .

Generations of Sassers have made moonshine in the Brushy Mountains of Wilkes County, North Carolina. Their history is recorded in a leather-bound journal that belongs to Jessie Sasser's daddy, but Jessie wants no part of it. As far as she's concerned, moonshine caused her mother's death a dozen years ago.

Her father refuses to speak about her mama, or about the day she died. But Jessie has a gnawing hunger for the truth--one that compels her to seek comfort in food. Yet all her self-destructive behavior seems to do is feed what her school's gruff but compassionate nurse describes as the "monster" inside Jessie.

Resenting her father's insistence that moonshining runs in her veins, Jessie makes a plan to destroy the stills, using their neighbors as scapegoats. Instead, her scheme escalates an old rivalry and reveals long-held grudges. As she endeavors to right wrongs old and new, Jessie's loyalties will bring her to unexpected revelations about her family, her strengths--and a legacy that may provide her with the answers she has been longing for.

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Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris ~ My Thoughts

Sold on a Monday

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris

Paperback and e-book, 352 pages
Published August 28th 2018 by Sourcebooks Landmark

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.

My thoughts about Sold on a Monday ~~ 

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"Outside the guarded entrance, reporters circled like a pack of wolves. They wanted names and locations, any links to the Mob, every newsworthy detail for tomorrow's front page. The irony wasn't lost on me."

I have to admit that I had not read a book by Kristina McMorris before I read this one. And an even bigger confession would be that I've never thought of myself as a fan of historical fiction. Lately, I've happened to find several historical stories that have appealed to me and I'm thinking I may have found a whole new genre to explore. 

After reading Sold on a Monday, I am now of fan of both Kristina and historical fiction. I'm guessing the genre doesn't matter when it's a interesting story, written by a talented author who is able to do wonderful things with words. 

This story captured my attention from the start. How could it not, when you read the phrase '2 Children for Sale'? That's just unfathomable to think about. The author weaves a wonderful tale, full of great characters and eye-opening descriptions of the hard times of those years of the 30's. 

I found myself completely swept up in the story towards the end of the book and honestly stayed up way too late just so I could find out how it ended. I couldn't leave the characters hanging in my thoughts, I just had to finish it! 

Thanks for the wonderful story, Kristina!

I received a copy of Sold on a Monday from Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for my honest review.

About the author

Kristina McMorris is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her novels have garnered more than two dozen literary awards and nominations, including the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, RWA’s RITA® Award, and a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction. Inspired by true personal and historical accounts, her works of fiction have been published by Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Kensington Books.

Her forthcoming novel, Sold on a Monday (Sourcebooks Landmark, 8-28-18), follows her widely praised The Edge of Lost, The Pieces We Keep, Bridge of Scarlet Leaves, and Letters from Home. Additionally, her novellas are featured in the anthologies A Winter Wonderland and Grand Central.

Prior to her writing career, Kristina hosted weekly TV shows since age nine, including an Emmy® Award-winning program, and has been named one of Portland's "40 Under 40" by The Business Journal. She lives with her husband and two sons in the Pacific Northwest, where she is working on her next novel.

Connect with Kristina

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

Release Day! Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris

Happy Release Day!

Sold on a Monday

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris
Print and ebook, 352 pages
Published August 28th 2018 by Sourcebooks Landmark

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.

Congratulations Kristina

 on the release today of

Sold on a Monday!

 Early Praise for Sold on a Monday

“The sale of two young children leads to devastating consequences in this historical tearjerker from McMorris... A tender love story enriches a complex plot, giving readers a story with grit, substance, and rich historical detail.”

—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“A vivid and original story… McMorris brilliantly chronicles the way in which a moment’s fateful choice can result in a lifetime of harrowing consequences. A masterpiece that poignantly echoes universal themes of loss and redemption, Sold on a Monday is both heartfelt and heartbreaking.”

—PAM JENOFF, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan’s Tale

“McMorris shines in this poignant and compulsively readable novel… Based upon a haunting historical photograph, and told with finesse and compassion, this story will linger long after the pages have all been turned.”

—STEPHANIE DRAY, New York Times bestselling author of America’s First Daughter

“Kristina McMorris once again plucks a devastating heartstring… A real-life photograph stands as evidence to the heart of this novel: truth revealed, forgiveness found, and a story never to be forgotten.”

—SARAH McCOY, New York Times bestselling author of The Baker’s Daughter

About the author

Kristina McMorris is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her novels have garnered more than two dozen literary awards and nominations, including the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, RWA’s RITA® Award, and a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction. Inspired by true personal and historical accounts, her works of fiction have been published by Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Kensington Books.

Her forthcoming novel, Sold on a Monday (Sourcebooks Landmark, 8-28-18), follows her widely praised The Edge of Lost, The Pieces We Keep, Bridge of Scarlet Leaves, and Letters from Home. Additionally, her novellas are featured in the anthologies A Winter Wonderland and Grand Central.

Prior to her writing career, Kristina hosted weekly TV shows since age nine, including an Emmy® Award-winning program, and has been named one of Portland's "40 Under 40" by The Business Journal. She lives with her husband and two sons in the Pacific Northwest, where she is working on her next novel.

Connect with Kristina

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

Book Spotlight Giveaway! Letters From Home by Kristina McMorris

I have sooooo many books! The Book Spotlight Giveaway feature that I post every Saturday is a way for me to clear my shelves and to share some of the many books I have. This feature is a way for my to cull my collection and to give someone else the opportunity to enjoy these treasures.

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This week's book is one that I found I have two copies of, sitting on my bookshelves. That's what happens when one tries to organize—buried treasure! It's still on my TBR list but seriously, I don't need two copies, do I? And isn't this cover beautiful? 

Good luck and be sure to stop back next week!

Letters From Home

Letters From Home by Kristina McMorris
Paperback, 364 pages
Published February 22nd 2011 by Kensington Books 

Chicago, 1944. Liz Stephens has little interest in attending a USO club dance with her friends Betty and Julia. She doesn't need a flirtation with a lonely serviceman when she's set to marry her childhood sweetheart. Yet something happens the moment Liz glimpses Morgan McClain. They share only a brief exchange--cut short by the soldier's evident interest in Betty--but Liz can't forget him. Thus, when Betty asks her to ghostwrite a letter to Morgan, stationed overseas, Liz reluctantly agrees.

Thousands of miles away, Morgan struggles to adjust to the brutality of war. His letters from "Betty" are a comfort, their soul-baring correspondence a revelation to them both. While Liz is torn by her feelings for a man who doesn't know her true identity, Betty and Julia each become immersed in their own romantic entanglements. And as the war draws to a close, all three will face heart-wrenching choices, painful losses, and the bittersweet joy of new beginnings.

Beautifully rendered and deeply moving, Letters from Home is a story of hope and connection, of sacrifices made in love and war--and the chance encounters that change us forever.

About the author

Kristina McMorris is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She's the recipient of more than twenty national literary awards, as well as nominations for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, RWA’s RITA® Award, and a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction. Inspired by true personal and historical accounts, her works of fiction have been published by Kensington Books, Penguin Random House, and HarperCollins. 

The Edge of Lost is her fourth novel, following the widely praised Letters from Home, Bridge of Scarlet Leaves, and The Pieces We Keep. Additionally, her novellas are featured in the anthologies A Winter Wonderland and Grand Central. Prior to her writing career, Kristina hosted weekly TV shows since age nine, including an Emmy® Award-winning program, and has been named one of Portland's "40 Under 40" by The Business Journal. She lives with her husband and two sons in the Pacific Northwest, where she is working on her next novel

Connect with Kristina

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!