jackie_beyondthebookends's review against another edition
4.0
Eli’s Promise is another exemplary historical fiction by Ronald Balson.
It’s a stand alone that isn’t a part of the Liam and Katherine series. I was so curious to see how this book would differ.
Balson is such a skilled writer and always finds a way to weave a story with suspense and capture a unique point of view.
The book moves between Nazi occupied Poland, Post-war Germany and the Chicago during the Vietnam era. Eli Rosen is on a quest to find the man who betrayed his family and bring him to justice.
The perspective of this book is unique and completely captivating. With characters that are so easy to love and hate, this is a must read historical fiction. Happy belated publication day!!! Thank you so much to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for my copy of this book!
It’s a stand alone that isn’t a part of the Liam and Katherine series. I was so curious to see how this book would differ.
Balson is such a skilled writer and always finds a way to weave a story with suspense and capture a unique point of view.
The book moves between Nazi occupied Poland, Post-war Germany and the Chicago during the Vietnam era. Eli Rosen is on a quest to find the man who betrayed his family and bring him to justice.
The perspective of this book is unique and completely captivating. With characters that are so easy to love and hate, this is a must read historical fiction. Happy belated publication day!!! Thank you so much to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for my copy of this book!
louetta's review against another edition
4.0
Very compelling story with great characters.
Eli will do anything to protect his family when the Germans take over their town, even if it means having to trust the traitor, Max Poleski. When Max betrays him and his family all disappear, he vows revenge, even if it takes the rest of his life. After years of chasing him, and Max slipping away time after time, he finds himself in 1960 Chicago, once again after Max Poleski. Will he ever get justice for Max's betrayal of his friends and family?
I loved this story. Found it hard to put down.
4 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher and author for an ARC of this book.The opinions expressed are my own.
Eli will do anything to protect his family when the Germans take over their town, even if it means having to trust the traitor, Max Poleski. When Max betrays him and his family all disappear, he vows revenge, even if it takes the rest of his life. After years of chasing him, and Max slipping away time after time, he finds himself in 1960 Chicago, once again after Max Poleski. Will he ever get justice for Max's betrayal of his friends and family?
I loved this story. Found it hard to put down.
4 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher and author for an ARC of this book.The opinions expressed are my own.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
Eli's Promise by Ronald H. Balson is a poignant novel that takes place during three distinct time periods.
In 1939, Eli Rosen and his family are happy and prosperous. Eli works with his father Jakob in the family business. His wife Esther is a nurse who works in a local hospital. They are very proud of their young son Izaak. But trouble is on the horizon as Adolf Hitler begins his invasion of Poland. Eli rather naively believes Hitler's troops will never reach their town, but Esther is correct in her assumption that it is only a matter of time before the Nazis arrive. They watch with shock and dismay as the Nazis systematically target the Jewish community and force them into work camps and ghettos. With their business seized by the Nazis, Eli and his father have no choice but to cede control to the Germans and Maximilian Poleski. Eli pays Max to keep Jakob, Esther and Izaak safe, but the opportunistic profiteer betrays the Rosens in the worst possible way.
After the war has ended, Eli and Izaak live in an American run displacement camp. Eli and his son are anxiously awaiting a visa so they can begin their life anew, but the emigration process is plagued by quotas in most countries. He is working with camp leaders to expand housing when he hears that someone is selling visas on the black market. The description of the man who is illegally selling the visas leads Eli to believe Max is behind the scam. Will he and the others locate Max who has answers that Eli has desperately been searching for?
In the mid 1960s, Eli is living in Chicago just as the Vietnam War is just beginning to ramp up. His landlady Ruth Gold and her daughter Mimi are extremely curious about their newest tenant and wildly speculate about his job. Mimi and Eli are on friendly terms and when he needs assistance with a possible corruption scandal, he enlists her aid. Will they succeed in their plan to bring down a lucrative enterprise?
With chapters seamlessly alternating between the various time periods, Eli's Promise is an engrossing novel. The Nazi atrocities against the Jewish citizens in Poland are absolutely heartrending. The aftermath of the war is equally difficult as the Jewish survivors struggle to find new homes amidst harsh living conditions. Eli's plight is heartbreaking but he remains steadfast in his quest for justice. Ronald H. Balson brings this historically accurate novel to a very satisfying conclusion.
In 1939, Eli Rosen and his family are happy and prosperous. Eli works with his father Jakob in the family business. His wife Esther is a nurse who works in a local hospital. They are very proud of their young son Izaak. But trouble is on the horizon as Adolf Hitler begins his invasion of Poland. Eli rather naively believes Hitler's troops will never reach their town, but Esther is correct in her assumption that it is only a matter of time before the Nazis arrive. They watch with shock and dismay as the Nazis systematically target the Jewish community and force them into work camps and ghettos. With their business seized by the Nazis, Eli and his father have no choice but to cede control to the Germans and Maximilian Poleski. Eli pays Max to keep Jakob, Esther and Izaak safe, but the opportunistic profiteer betrays the Rosens in the worst possible way.
After the war has ended, Eli and Izaak live in an American run displacement camp. Eli and his son are anxiously awaiting a visa so they can begin their life anew, but the emigration process is plagued by quotas in most countries. He is working with camp leaders to expand housing when he hears that someone is selling visas on the black market. The description of the man who is illegally selling the visas leads Eli to believe Max is behind the scam. Will he and the others locate Max who has answers that Eli has desperately been searching for?
In the mid 1960s, Eli is living in Chicago just as the Vietnam War is just beginning to ramp up. His landlady Ruth Gold and her daughter Mimi are extremely curious about their newest tenant and wildly speculate about his job. Mimi and Eli are on friendly terms and when he needs assistance with a possible corruption scandal, he enlists her aid. Will they succeed in their plan to bring down a lucrative enterprise?
With chapters seamlessly alternating between the various time periods, Eli's Promise is an engrossing novel. The Nazi atrocities against the Jewish citizens in Poland are absolutely heartrending. The aftermath of the war is equally difficult as the Jewish survivors struggle to find new homes amidst harsh living conditions. Eli's plight is heartbreaking but he remains steadfast in his quest for justice. Ronald H. Balson brings this historically accurate novel to a very satisfying conclusion.
lady_lala's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jackyobrien6's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
starrburst112's review
3.0
It was just okay. Wanted the villain to get justice so that’s why I kept reading.
kolymaarasto's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
gr8reader's review against another edition
5.0
Balson never disappoints. Balson has a way of weaving a story, moving from past to present tempting you to read one time period and then go back and read another and then read the last.....but you know better. His ability to develop characters, story lines, plots...you know when you open one of his books, it's going to be a great read!
scewart's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
keepingyouonread's review against another edition
3.0
Eli’s Promise is a triple timeline book following Eli Rosen and a fixer, Maximilian. In Nazi occupied Poland, Eli is forced to work with Maximilian for his family’s protection. Later at a resettlement camp, Eli learns that Maximilian is selling US Visas. In 1960s America, Eli is tracking a sleazy political operative.
What worked for me: The beginning chapters as the Nazi’s takeover Poland are heartbreaking. Eli’s wife wants to flee but Eli thinks it’s better to stay and lie low. I’ve read a lot of WW2 historical fiction, so I know how quickly things disintegrated in invaded countries but it’s hard to read every time. Max is the perfect slimy villain, taking advantage of people in their time of need.
What didn’t work for me: I usually find with multiple POV or timeline books, I prefer one story over the other and this was true for this book, the 1940s was vastly more interesting and heartbreaking than the 1960 storyline. Because of the break in timeline, I also don’t know how Eli got to the US or started working for the government. I’m also confused as to what crimes the congressman and friends were doing - I think skimming money from war contracts but I’m not 100%. I also wanted to know more about how Max kept landing on his feet.
Who should read it: fans of Balson’s past novels and historical fiction fans who want more suspense than romance.
What worked for me: The beginning chapters as the Nazi’s takeover Poland are heartbreaking. Eli’s wife wants to flee but Eli thinks it’s better to stay and lie low. I’ve read a lot of WW2 historical fiction, so I know how quickly things disintegrated in invaded countries but it’s hard to read every time. Max is the perfect slimy villain, taking advantage of people in their time of need.
What didn’t work for me: I usually find with multiple POV or timeline books, I prefer one story over the other and this was true for this book, the 1940s was vastly more interesting and heartbreaking than the 1960 storyline. Because of the break in timeline, I also don’t know how Eli got to the US or started working for the government. I’m also confused as to what crimes the congressman and friends were doing - I think skimming money from war contracts but I’m not 100%. I also wanted to know more about how Max kept landing on his feet.
Who should read it: fans of Balson’s past novels and historical fiction fans who want more suspense than romance.