"What would you do if you knew your unborn child would be born with a serious birth defect? That's the question that was facing Chad and Ashley Judice of Lafayette, Louisiana, when their unborn son was diagnosed with spina bifida in a 16-weeks ultrasound. If brought to term, the child could be paralyzed from the waist on down. He would probably have little or no control of his bowels or bladder. And he could have any number of learning disabilities associated with a related birth defect called hydrocephalus, commonly referred to as "water on the brain". When the doctor gave the Judices the diagnosis, she expressed her sincere sympathy, then proceeded to ask Ashley if she wanted to terminate the pregnancy. The medical literature on this birth defect indicates 80 percent of parents who are given this diagnosis do close abortion. Ashley and Chad did not want to be in that number. Instead, they would pray for a miracle" --Cover, p. 2.

The stories in this book are wrapped around fiction. The characters are like most Americans, proud and willing to die for what they believe is the best country on earth. In the book ELI, the characters are put to the test. The U.S. has been attacked with nuclear weapons and is on the brink of collapse. Old enemies attack and try to take us down. The world sits by and takes it all in. Modern warfare sometimes takes a backseat to the way this new war is fought. The way men fight reverts back a hundred years.

This is the third in a trilogy of inspiring, heartwarming books that tell the story of a Lafayette, La., couple and their child, Eli, who was born with a birth defect called spina bifida. Published when Eli was 9 years old, this volume follows the boy's life from infancy to that of a healthy, happy second-grader. At the same time, on a parallel track, the book chronicles Eli's dad's growth in and understanding of his Catholic faith. In his journey toward the light of a much deeper faith, Eli's dad, Chad Judice, gains an unshakable trust in the Lord, a greater reliance on the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a commitment to the church's teachings on Natural Family Planning.

Charlie Davies has returned – and apparently so has Topher. Oh brother. All the signs point to my big bro, Topher, being back in town. The trouble is, I can't find him – and I’m not the only one looking. Even for an amazing PI, this is a tricky case, and I’m hardly in the 'amazing' category. With the police searching for him, convinced that he's a murderer, I’m racing against the clock to find him and help him before he's arrested – or worse. And given the way Officer James McKenzie has been behaving, I’m not sure there's anyone else on my brother's side. I’m not even certain which side that is. Because when it really comes down to it, Topher has been missing for six years. How well does anyone know him anymore – even me? Of course, none of this is going to stop me from trying to find him first. Hey, I may not be all that talented, but no one can say Charlie Davies isn't determined.

"National Jewish Book Award winner Ron Balson returns triumphantly with Eli’s Promise, a captivating saga of the Holocaust and its aftermath spanning decades and continents. Readers will not be able to put this book down, but will turn the pages compulsively with heart in throat, eager to learn the fate of the Rosen family. Balson’s meticulous historical detail, vivid prose and unforgettable characters further solidify his place among the most esteemed writers of historical fiction today." —Pam Jenoff, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Lost Girls of Paris A "fixer" in a Polish town during World War II, his betrayal of a Jewish family, and a search for justice 25 years later—by the winner of the National Jewish Book Award. Eli's Promise is a masterful work of historical fiction spanning three eras—Nazi-occupied Poland, the American Zone of post-war Germany, and Chicago at the height of the Vietnam War. Award-winning author Ronald H. Balson explores the human cost of war, the mixed blessings of survival, and the enduring strength of family bonds. 1939: Eli Rosen lives with his wife Esther and their young son in the Polish town of Lublin, where his family owns a construction company. As a consequence of the Nazi occupation, Eli’s company is Aryanized, appropriated and transferred to Maximilian Poleski—an unprincipled profiteer who peddles favors to Lublin’s subjugated residents. An uneasy alliance is formed; Poleski will keep the Rosen family safe if Eli will manage the business. Will Poleski honor his promise or will their relationship end in betrayal and tragedy? 1946: Eli resides with his son in a displaced persons camp in Allied-occupied Germany hoping for a visa to America. His wife has been missing since the war. One man is sneaking around the camps selling illegal visas; might he know what has happened to her? 1965: Eli rents a room in Albany Park, Chicago. He is on a mission. With patience, cunning, and relentless focus, he navigates unfamiliar streets and dangerous political backrooms, searching for the truth. Powerful and emotional, Ronald H. Balson's Eli's Promise is a rich, rewarding novel of World War II and a husband’s quest for justice.