It’s been about four months. Hana & Daud have gotten married between volumes 1 and 2 of Robert Whitlow’s Chosen People series. “Promised Land” is the title for volume 2 and it’s referring to Israel as the land that’s been promised.

Returning with them on this adventure are Jacob, the young lawyer from Atlanta and their big puppy, Leon. This story includes some secondary characters that carryover from the first story but is an unique story arc all it’s own and can stand independently.

Whitlow gives detailed history regarding Arab Christians. The story also includes much about Arab-Israelís relationships over the centuries up to current day. I found it very interesting and shed important light on political issues.

In keeping with his typical style, “Promised Land” has a love story running thru it where the couple will grow, change and be successful, (somehow). There is quite a bit of action and violence in this story but none of the narrative is overly descriptive.

Other strong themes are home & family. These two actually thread amongst protagonists and antagonists giving an odd balance to the book. Whitlow treats his characters fairly and didn’t add his own political snark to the story; refreshing!

Written in 2020, the information regarding the Middle East is reasonably up to date. Whitlow’s style is easily understood and approachable. The book would make a good tool for introducing your teens to contemporary issues in Israel as well as between Arabs and Israelís. It’s also an excellent work of fiction that will educate and entertain📚

Another masterpiece by Robert Whitlow. Classic. Well crafted novel. Evocative writing. Complex. Emotional. Five stars.

My husband and I both enjoyed this sequel to Chosen People! I'm always very happy when I find books that we both enjoy and can share. While this book has less stilted, more natural dialogue than Chosen People, I also found it a little more predictable and formulaic so I preferred the first book because it kept me guessing. My husband, however, liked this one better. And honestly, we both thoroughly enjoyed both of them so whatever.

It was fun to see Hana and Daud figure life out as a married couple in this book. So many stories end when the characters realize they are in love, but I always enjoy getting to continue on with them. I appreciated the realism of this book - that they did not agree on much of anything and had so much to learn about communicating with each other and living as a couple instead of as two single people.

I found the mystery compelling, and as always, loved the spiritual component that Whitlow brings to his books. I am very inspired by Hana's prayer life and have been trying to implement some of the ways she interacts with the Lord into my own life. I especially liked how, in this book, she began to include her husband in her prayer life. I really enjoyed walking through that journey with her! I would love more books about Hana and Daud so I really hope that author considers continuing this series at some point!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and then checked out the audiobook from our library to share it with my husband. We really liked the narrator used for this second one and both felt she did a better job with the accents and dialogue than the narrator of the first book.

Hana Abboud and Daud Hasan were torn between their old life in Jerusalem and their new opportunities in Atlanta. Hana, an attorney, was extremely talented at translations of contracts, as she spoke Arabic and Hebrew as well as English. Daud, an undercover operative, was always living on the edge of danger, and his independent consulting firm was doing well. On his last trip to Jerusalem, Daud was the target of several men wanting to kill him, but he manages to escape safely. Hana soon realizes she is pregnant, and they have a serious decision to make. Will they remain in Atlanta or return home to Jerusalem?

This is the second book in a series, and I did not know that when I selected it. I spent the entire time feeling a bit lost, since it seems to pick up right after the first book ended, with not much lead-in to set the stage. Not having very much background info made for a disconnected experience for me, and I was unable to really connect with the characters.

I love Robert Whitlow's books and was not disappointed with Promised Land, the sequel to Chosen People.
The story is about a newly married Arab -Christian couple who live in the Atlanta but have ties to Israel and part of the story takes place there. This novel is full of mystery and intrigue and I hated for it to come to an end ! Hoping there is a third book with Hana and Daud.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchnage for my honest review.

Robert Whitlow doesn't disappoint in this powerful, erudite work. Greater depth in understanding the paradox of the Middle East is always beneficial.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC.

Robert Whitlow's no-nonsense writing clears the way for readers to grasp his storylines, seemingly ripped from the headlines. I love that this author is a sure bet. Any title that I recommend, I can say with confidence, will be a winner with our readers.

I missed the fact that this was book 2 in the series. I want to read book one and then I will get a review posted on all the books.

I was excited to see another new Robert Whitlow book, so I requested a copy on NetGalley. I tried to start the book several times and could not get in to it. I was determined to trudge my way through it because I refused to leave it un-reviewed on NetGalley. Then…someone suggested I read book one – Chosen People. That was a game changer. After I understood the background, I was immediately drawn in to Promised Land, and truly enjoyed it.
I loved learning more about all the characters from Chosen People, as Hana and Daud settle into married life, and start their family. I also enjoyed the supporting characters, and seeing tidbit into their lives.
Once again, the storyline was believable and realistic, and I enjoyed the balance of action, romance, religion, and the new legal case involving ancient artifacts.
If there is another book in the series, I’ll definitely want to read it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was another outstanding read. I read Chosen People last year sometime, and was struck by the setting—very, very rarely have I ever read a book set in Israel and hardly ever (never?) a contemporary fiction at that. Whitlow changed that for me, though, in both of these books—he brought that place, its people, customs, and some ways of thought—to life in a way that felt very realistic without having a touch of info-dumping or information not relevant to the story.

One thing I especially enjoyed in Promised Land was the faith element. I remember noticing it in the previous book as well, but watching Hana go about her daily life, intentionally taking time to serve the Lord, was inspiring to me. I long for a deeper, closer relationship with Him, and though she is a fictitious character, I think all of us can learn from her example. She isn’t so much a vocal person about her faith, but her devotional life is rich—and I so enjoyed watching that element in here. It’s a part I don’t see very often in other Christian fiction.

Besides the faith and setting sides, I loved the mysteries here. I also loved that though you are told what the bad guys are planning to do, you are still totally invested in the story because you want to see just how their plans work out. That’s good storytelling!

I’m not sure there was anything about Promised Land that I didn’t enjoy. I don’t think it was quite as gripping as the previous one in the series, but I was fine with that—not every book must be a thriller. Some people might not find this sequel quite as good as the previous book, but to me, it was perfect—just different. If you enjoyed meeting Hana and her family in the last story, I’d recommend this one. It’s a great read.

I requested a free review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

Promised Land
by Robert Whitlow

Thomas Nelson--FICTION

Thomas Nelson
Christian , Mystery & Thrillers
Read an Excerpt
Pub Date 14 Jan 2020


I am reviewing a copy of Promised Land through Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley:



Hana and Daud are unable to return to their homeland, despite having Israeli citizenship because of a dangerous terrorist ring is out to hurt Daud. Hana would rather remain in the United States, where she works at a law firm in Atlanta, especially after learning she’s pregnant, but Daud wants to return to Israel even if it makes him a walking target.





Hana is helping her boss plan an extremely large Middle East summit in Atlanta when her old friend and former Co-Litigator, asks for her help with a case. He has a client who is attempting to recover ancient artifacts stolen from his Jewish great-grandfather by a Soviet colonel at the end of World War II. The case crosses several national borders, he needs Hana’s knowledge and skill to get to the bottom of what happened to these precious artifacts.





In the meantime Daud is called to help a US intelligence agency extract a Ukrainian doctor from a dangerous situation in Egypt. While overseas, he can’t resist the call of Jerusalem and thus sets off a series of events that puts thousands of people in danger, including his wife and unborn child.


I give Promised Land five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

A gripping, well written story full of trials and the faith that lifts us to overcome. It is not a light read but it is full of light and will leave you feeling lifted. Brilliant storytelling takes you on a journey that you won’t expect.

Despite their Israeli citizenship, Hana and Daud cannot safely return to their homeland because a dangerous terrorist ring is threatening Daud. Hana is perfectly fine remaining in the United States, working for a law firm in Atlanta, especially when she learns she’s pregnant. But Daud can’t shake the draw to return home to Israel, even if it makes him a walking target.

Mr. Whitlow’s books are some of my favorite. This is the follow up to Chosen People and is equally exciting but seemed to take a little longer to develop and then it was over. And maybe that was for the best. When I started reading this book, I fully expected to be completed during my trip to Israel. But the trip was cancelled and dashed my hopes of possibly seeing some of the places described in the books.

I. This book, there were several storylines woven together and Hana’s faith was at the center of it all. As the book developed, that faith touched so many. And it seemed to make Daud a stronger person. Also, the author did give some very high level explanations into Muslin sect differences.

I would like to thank Netgalley,the Publisher and the author for a copy of the book. I highly recommend it and the review is my own.

Robert Whitlow writes amazing stories. It was with reluctance that I would put this book down to do something else. The storyline goes back and forth among several different situations, but there’s always an underlying tension that continues to rise until the very last section of the book. I loved it when the story would take the reader to present-day Israel. The author’s detailed description of the city, people, and food made me feel as if I were traveling along with newlyweds Hana and Daud.

Hana and Daud’s relationship are at the heart of this story. We see them struggle with decisions that all married couples have to work through, especially the issue of employment and where to live. I felt there was a good balance in the book between seeing their relationship grow and the more suspenseful, action-filled part of the story. But my favorite part of the story was watching Hana’s faith grow. She had to battle through fear to find peace and to search for God’s leading in their lives. As I write this review, there’s fear and unease because of the Covid 19 virus. Hana’s story was a wonderful reminder to trust God in all situations.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Israeli citizens Hana and Daud have made their home in Atlanta where Hana works at a law firm and Daud operates a security company. Hana agrees to help her friend Jacob find an antique artifact, and Daud recovers a Ukrainian scientist whose life is in danger. Despite their distance from Israel, the couple soon finds themselves in the crosshairs of a terrorist plot that jeopardizes their relationship, unborn child and future.
Robert Whitlow definitely knows how to write a book that connects with the readers' emotions. I laughed, cried and felt scared for Hana and Daud as I read. Whitlow includes conversations about their relationship insecurities, passions, arguments, values, and everyday life, too, that make the couple relatable.
The plot gets complicated in places, though, and the terrorist storyline doesn't exactly mesh with the artifact storyline. In fact, the story gets choppy sometimes and made me feel disgruntled. Also, the plot goes super fast in places and plods along in others.
Hana and Daud are humans - that's very clear. The story is a bit fantastical, but overall, this book is an entertaining read.

Promised Land is the second book in the legal thriller series, Chosen People, by Robert Whitlow. Having enjoyed reading this best-selling author's work for many years, I was looking forward to reading this newest release and was not disappointed. Even though Promised Land is second in a series, there is enough background given throughout the book that it can easily be read as a stand-alone story. Readers find Daud and Hana, Israeli Arabs, are now living in the United States and are working through their life as newlyweds. This multifaceted story is well written as Whitlow is an expert in writing legal fiction with action, intrigue, and twists to the plot that increase the suspense and keep a reader's interest high. With descriptive prose regarding Middle Eastern culture, customs, and cuisine, the reader is easily transported into the scenes of the book. I enjoyed how Hana's faith in God is portrayed as a very personal and transformative belief in a God who cares about and guides His children. As she and Daud think about the future and where their 'promised land' might be, will she recognize that sometimes that promised land of peace is a place within and not one of geography? I thoroughly enjoyed the story of the characters in the book--friends, family, colleagues, and even Leon, the dog. I am hoping there is more to come in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. A favorable review was not required, and the opinions are my own.

Promised Land by Robert Whitlow – Intrigue, Suspense, Interesting Characters Mixed with Fascinating Cultures

When author Robert Whitlow writes a book, I want to read it. That’s why I was excited at the opportunity to read his newest book Promised Land and I loved it.

Readers are reintroduced to characters from his last novel Chosen People. Hana Abboud, a Christian Arab attorney from Israel who is living in the United States, her husband Daud Hasan a Christian Arab from Israel, friend and colleague Jakob Brodsky, and dear friends Ben and Sadie Neumann. While reading this book, I felt like I was being reunited and catching up with old friends.

The story begins with Rahal Abaza in Qatar, five years earlier he had a jarring experience that set his life on a new course that will intersect with Daud and Hana. Hana is at home and awakens for her night watch, a time of prayer, reading Scripture and worship. While she does not know the specifics of all that’s going on with her husband Daud, she is praying for him while he is in Egypt on a mission for the CIA. He will need those prayers for what he’s about to encounter.

From the get-go, Promised Land is off and running. There’s a lot of suspense, intrigue, and action, but it doesn’t interfere with the development of characters or take the place of an interesting storyline. It’s well balanced.

My favorite thing about Robert Whitlow’s writing is how he develops characters. Hana is one of the most interesting characters. It’s fascinating to see and consider what it’s like to be an Arab Christian who is from Israel. You would think that there might be conflict, but Hana is a very gracious woman who takes her faith seriously. She loves her family and is a faithful friend. I found Daud intriguing and felt on edge with all the situations and people he encounters. Jakob is an interesting fellow. He always seems to take on cases that look impossible and that will require a lot of work and research to see if they will pan out. Ben and his daughter Sadie…absolutely love them.

I don’t want to spoil the story about what happens, so I’ll leave it with a brief intro into the storyline and characters. But I hope that you will pick up a copy of Promised Land by Robert Whitlow. It’s the second book in this series but is a good stand-alone book. You may want to go back and read Chosen People so you can have a richer connection with the characters.

Robert Whitlow is a gifted writer. He tells a good story and develops rich likable characters. I highly recommend Promised Land by Robert Whitlow. If you like action, suspense, intrigue, and interesting likable characters you will like Promised Land.

I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Promised Land by Robert Whitlow. I was provided with a free copy of this book and was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Robert Whitlow’s second installment from his Chosen People series, Promised Land was a great read. I enjoy reading this author’s work and I was not disappointed with this one. Since this is part of a series, I believe it would be best to read the first book, also, titled Chosen People, before beginning this one. I thought the book was far from predictable. While reading this, I never knew where the story was going to go until the next page. I felt like I was taking a thrilling ride around the world. The book was full of action and adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat. I would not expect any less from Mr Whitlock. He really knows how to keep his readers engaged.

Promised Land gets a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I hope there will be more in the Chosen People series. I highly recommend this one.

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK 

Robert Whitlow books are just amazing! And Promise Land sure didn’t disappoint! I quickly fell in love with Hana and her husband Daud. And I love Avi and the fun she brought to the story. The dangers in Daud’s assignments were scary, to say the least, and Hana’s faith through it all was amazing.

There is a lot going on in this story, and you have to read the book to know the full effect. As I read through the book, I was in awe of the details this author used in describing each scene. I felt as though I was living the story with these characters. Author Robert Whitlow shows off his writing skills well in this book, I think the writing is phenomenal. He does such a fantastic job of writing in the personalities of each character, and weaving the Christian faith and lifestyle into their lives is done in a tasteful and subtle way that seems effortless.

If you enjoy a good clean, enjoyable with a bit of mystery and dangerous thrown in, I highly recommend Promise Land. If you haven’t read anything from this author, now is the time to start! You won’t be disappointed, this is for sure.

A copy of this book was given to me by the author or publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions here in this review are totally mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

This book has it all...adventure, intrigue, love, and religious symbolism. While the spiritual depth is apparent and pervades the novel, there is a unique balance with action, mystery and espionage. It is not often that one finds a book that crosses boundaries and deals so well, so lovingly, with a divide as well as unity across religions. But manages to keep the reader in suspense with every page. Very well done and well written! Thank you!