It was interesting to read a version of this ‘write my WWII memoirs’ trope that focused on a diplomat versus a Holocaust survivor or person who hid Jews. I enjoyed the storyline, especially as I am of Dutch descent. It was interesting to learn some of the finer points of the early resistance activities in the country and to see the extent to which the Dutch tried to help their Jewish neighbours.

At times I wished some of the ideas in the book were explored in more depth but overall it was a good read. I appreciated the mix of both fictional characters and real historical people in the storyline.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of this book.

A Place to Hide
A Novel
by Ronald H. Balson (This review is based on an ARC sent me by Netgalley)
This a work of historical fiction.
The main protagonists are: Theodore” Teddy “Hartigan, Betsy McCutcheon, Sara Rosenbaum, Julia Powers and Saul and Deborah Rosenbaum.
Karyn Sachnoff, a journalist of Dutch Jewish origin, seeks help from Theodore "Teddy" Hartigan, a man who worked in the U.S. consulate in Amsterdam during the war, to find her long-lost sister, Annie. Karyn meets with Teddy each day to write his biography.
The story unfolds against the backdrop of Nazi Germany's occupation of the Netherlands and the growing threat to Jewish people. Teddy witnesses the escalating anti-Semitic laws and the desperate plight of Jewish people, leading him to take significant risks to help them escape the growing danger.
Teddy uses his position at the U.S. consulate and his connections to facilitate adoptions and other forms of escape for Jewish children, including Karyn and her sister.
When the consulate is permanently closed Teddy is
asked to stay on and to work undercover with Sara’s father. Teddy becomes part of the resistance movement.
Jewish families are sequestered in Amsterdam and awaiting transport to concentration
camps. Parents are desperate to save their children, and Teddy conceives a plan to help as many of them as possible.
A place to hide is a National Jewish Book Award winner.

Thank you for the opportunity to share thoughts on this book. After reflecting on the book for quite some time, I must share that I found this book somewhat off-putting. Yes, the story is well-researched and, at times, moving. But the main character is very misogynistic, which was highly upsetting for me. It almost felt like the author was permitting the main character to be this way due to his age. I wanted more of a character growth arc, which did not happen, in my opinion. It was not my favorite read, nor can I recommend it to my followers who expect more feminist and female-focused titles from me.

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝔸 ℙ𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖 𝕥𝕠 ℍ𝕚𝕕𝕖
𝗥𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗛. 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼𝗻
Historical Fiction

Teddy’s story is told as he dictates it to Karyn, a child who was saved from death by being placed with an adoptive Christian family. Teddy agrees to use his connections to try to find Karyn’s sister in exchange for her writing down his story for his grandchildren, as he is old and has kept much of it to himself.

Teddy’s story takes us to Holland during the Holocaust, where he took a job for the US consulate in Amsterdam and branches out to tell how he helped to save some of the Jewish people in the area.

Though this is historical fiction, it hits hard. There are so many stories outside of, but related to, the concentration camps. This was the first time I’d read one set in the Netherlands. I am in awe of those who risked their lives to save others.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the interviews with Teddy at first, as the story jumps from the present to the past. Soon enough, though, I was deep into it, needing to hear what happened next.

I thought the amount of detail was much more than a 90+ year old’s memory could hold, yet it made the story, so I was glad it was there.

I was happy to learn about some of the history Balson used to develop this book, which is included at the end of the story. Knowing a bit of the research always interests me when it comes to historical fiction.

Historical fiction at its finest.

What an amazing story of bravery, fearlessness and resilience. A Place to Hide brings readers to Holland during WWII thru the eyes of Teddy Hartigan, a U.S. State Consulate, who processes visas for refugees fleeing from the Nazi war machine.
He soon falls in love with a Jewish woman, Sara, and the couple decides to adopt a child refugee. Even though Sara is the wife of a diplomat she is unable to escape Europe and Teddy stays realizing the fate of his new family is in his hands.

This book is such a timely and important message when Jews around the world are being vilified and antisemitism is running wild under the guise of "protest" and
"intellectualism", it's important to remember the consequences of such rhetoric.

Don't miss this one once it's published.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in return for an honest review.

A wonderful historical fiction novel set during WWII. Washington DC native, Teddy, is reassigned from his state department job to the US Consulate in Amsterdam. Once there he develops a relationship with Sara, a Jew, and together they set about finding ways to save as many Jews as possible from the Nazis. Very well written and a unique perspective of the involvement of an American in the underground network. Highly recommend.

I have a new favorite author! This book was so good I have gone on to read many of this other books and they are all just as good. If you like WWII history, these books need to be part of your shelves!

This was a great historical fiction novel! Loved the plot of this book! The characters were enjoyable and so easy to connect with! Definitely recommend giving this one a read!

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Interesting WWII story that comes from a different perspective than others I have read. Always a hard point of time in history to read about.

A PLACE TO HIDE by
RONALD H BALSON

Ted Hartigan works for the American state department in the Netherlands . His job is to process visa applications.

My 1939, refugees from the Nazi conquered Poland, Austria, and other countries are desperate to secure safe path to America .

Teddy falls in love with a Jewish woman, and they adopt a young girl named Katy

This book explores the deeply moving actions of an ordinary man who resolves under perilous circumstances to make a difference

This was a lot of information about the Netherlands during World War II and the lack of American visas to all those expected

This was a very interesting book

This book was published September 17, 2024 and is available now

I have enjoyed so many of the books by Ronald Balson. My first read, Once We Were Brothers, sucked me in and I have since read every book he has published. This WWII historical fiction book is another great addition to the genre. This one has a little different focus and I loved getting to know the characters and seeing how brave men and women were during Hitler’s reign of terror. Their resilience and many acts of bravery made a difference in the lives of so many people. It touches me to read of their willingness to put their lives on the line and you will get drawn into their story as you flip through the pages quickly to discover how things will end.

Another big positive for me is the dual timeline aspect. I loved getting to know Teddy as a 92-year-old gentleman living in an assisted living facility and how he tells about his time in Amsterdam and how it will affect the young lady who is writing his life story. This is an emotional ride through the pages! Once you open the book, you will be drawn in and will not be willing to put it down until you’ve absorbed the last word on the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

A Place to Hide by Ronald Balson is a historical fiction set in the Netherlands during WWII. Teddy works at the US Consulate and he realizes that he can be helpful and save some of those endangered by the Nazis.
While I sometimes found the interview style of writing less than my favorite, still the story engaged me and I am glad I read this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of A Place to Hide in exchange for an honest review. This book is available now.

I learned so much from this book about a US foreign service officer in Amsterdam during the horrific beginning of WWII. It was written in a unique conversational way that allowed the story to flow. The ending was perfect but I would have loved even more about the characters’ lives after their escape.

The Netherlands declared their neutrality in WWI and were largely spared by Germany. They believed that their neutral stand would once again save them when Germany again rose to power. It was a costly mistake. Years after the war Karyn, a journalist living in Israel, still believes that her sister survived and has never given up hope of finding her. A chance encounter with an American businessman raises that hope. His cousin, Teddy Hartigan, was stationed at the American consulate in Amsterdam as the war approached. He still has contacts in Europe and will help her in exchange for her help in telling his story. He is now in his nineties and would like his family to know his role in the war. Teddy was sent to process immigrant visas. When he arrived the lines of people fleeing the Nazis was never ending. While he interviewed people and processed their applications he knew that the quotas were already filled and they would only be placed on the waiting list. While in Amsterdam he met Sara, a Jewish teacher, and her family. Her father Saul is a college professor who has been following Hitler’s progress and warns Teddy of what is to come. After marrying Sara, Pearl Harbor is attacked and America enters the war. The consulate is evacuated, but Teddy stays behind and is recruited to spy. Working with Saul and a group of his students, he gathers information for the Allies and helps to rescue as many Jews as possible. Through Sara’s family connection to a nursery school, they smuggle children to Christian families with new identities, saving hundreds.

Teddy’s story is heartbreaking. From his father, who was an isolationist, to the frustration of dealing with the applicants who actually had no hope of receiving help, Teddy is constantly under pressure. Even as the wife of an American consul, Sara’s application is rejected. with false papers to hide their identities, they eventually come under suspicion and are forced to flee. As Teddy recounts his story it awakens memories for Karyn and she realizes that she and her sister were among the rescued children. While Teddy’s cousin warned her that he was not easy to deal with and he proves himself to be difficult at first, there is a softening of his character when he talks about Sara. He develops a true connection with Karyn by the time his story is finished. Ronald Balson’s story is well researched and beautifully told. It is a story of love and sacrifice that will stay with you long after the last page. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing for providing this book.

Teddy Hartigan is firmly ensconced in Washington DC. He’s works for the U.S. State Department and is about to get engaged. All that changes drastically when he’s given the choice to go to Amsterdam or forever be stuck in a basement somewhere. It’s 1938 and Hitler’s rise is taking place. Teddy is put in charge of visa applications to help those that are trying to flee the country. The only issue is that there are very few visas available. When Teddy finally realizes that he can help people, he joins the underground all why still working at the US Consolate. A story of bravery, sacrifice and hope, once again Balson brings us a story of WWII that sheds light in a whole new direction. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

The story was beautiful! I just had an issue with the writing style - the interview storytelling throughout was a bit difficult to stay engaged to. I found the dialogue to be a bit clunky!

I've been reading a fair amount of historical fiction this year and this book did NOT disappoint! It has a well crafted storyline with well developed characters. A lovely way to learn more about a horrible part of history. Ronald Balson obviously knows what he's doing! A solid read. Thank you for the opportunity to review.

A Place to Hide is powerful historical fiction and at the same time a moving story about a compelling relationship during WWII in Holland. Even after Hitler's armies have invaded a number of countries in northern and central Europe, most of the Dutch feel fairly certain that declaring neutrality as they had during WWI will save them from also being invaded. Teddy Hartigan, from a well-connected family in Washington DC, works at the US consulate in Amsterdam, and there he meets Sara, a Dutch-Jewish woman. Eventually, they marry and adopt Katy, a traumatized little girl who they are quite sure comes from a Jewish family. She was left at a nursery school to save her from the vagaries of anti-Jewish Nazis.

The organization of the book which is set in 2002, is an ongoing interview of Teddy, who is now in his 90s and in a retirement home, by a journalist named Karyn Sachnoff, who is looking for her sister, Annie. The sisters were adopted separately by Dutch patriots to save them from being sent to the camps and murdered. Their family members were lost and presumably killed in the concentration camps. The historical aspects of the book describe how many hundreds of Jewish children were adopted by Dutch families to save them from certain death. Karyn is hoping to locate her sister, but at the same time, she is fascinated by Teddy's detailed story of being an American citizen married to a Dutch Jew, and what they had to face trying to save their family.

The book is deftly well-written, historically accurate and well-researched, and difficult to put down. Balson describes the fear of Jews targeted in Holland, the cleverness and determination of resisters, and the strength of an interfaith relationship. The descriptions of Sara's family, friends, and students who are doing their best to undermine the Nazis efforts to eradicate all Dutch Jews are striking. Balson has won well-deserved awards as a writer, and all of his books are riveting.

Thanks to Saint Martin's Press and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this excellent book.

Another hit for Ronald Balson! I will always look forward to his next book. A Place to Hide is a new and different perspective into World War II from the Netherlands. The Netherlands isn't a place that we often hear about when talking about World War II but Balson does an amazing job at bringing to life the country during that time. There is an array of characters from different back grounds we get to experience grow as they go through the tragedies of war and what it does people and their surroundings. Balson has a way of weaving a story that creates a magnificent movie in your head! His words had me absorbed into the book I felt like I was there along with the characters! I can never recommend a book by Ronald Balson enough!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy for an honest review.

I love a good historical story and this was no exception. The story in hear was brilliantly heartwarming and got me all in my feels. The detail and research made this book so great. I was transported to the time period and felt the stress and anxiety of the main character. I am for sure going to look for other books by this author.