Rating: 
Summary: Loved it!
Review: I have been an avid reader for the last 19 years of my life, and "Reflections in the Nile" made me do something I have never done before -- read while sitting in front of the TV! I simply DEVOURED this book, and even when I wanted to catch some baseball games on TV with my husband, I just could NOT put this book down. There have been very few books capable of engrossing me as this one did. There were, however, a couple of minor things that did bother me... First, I thought the book had too many similarities to Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander", but I also liked "Reflections" in part >because< of those similarities... Second, while I appreciate Suzanne Frank's attempts to make Chloe an "independent, 20th-century woman", did she really have to make Chloe so stubborn, bitchy and maybe even just flat stupid at times? There were moments in the book that I think >I< was more frustrated than Cheftu with Chloe's behavior! All around, though, I really loved this book, and my fingers are tingling to get a hold of "Shadows on the Aegean"!
Rating: 
Summary: What a great story!
Review: I have never been a great fan of books that play with time. However, J. Suzanne Frank's novel "Reflection in the Nile'' is one of those rare books that sweeps you away to a distant place and time without mangling the history it is attempting to illustrate . Set in ancient Egypt, I found Ms. Frank's story of lust and politics to be a sumptuously written mix of historical fact as well as sensual fancy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Reflection in the Nile'' and would highly recommend it to anyone that appreciates a well-told tale. Rick Fague, Indy
Rating:
Summary: Time Travel, History and Adventure!
Review: I have read all three books in this series. They are so fresh and different than any time travel books I have ever read. All the characters are interesting, what happens in the books is interesting. There are twists and turns you never could imagine. Story-telling at it's best!
Rating: 
Summary: Good moments, but a disappointing ending
Review: I have to apologize , first, to all those people that loved this book. I wanted to love it - I truly enjoy books about ancient Egypt. This one didn't do it for me though. Perhaps I have been spoiled by Pauline Gedge's excellent writing, and hoped to find some of that same quality here. Unfortunately, I felt cheated by this book. After a long and rather boring beginning, Frank proceeds to rush through the remainder of the book as if she can't wait to be finished with it! She glosses over important details and events with frantic haste, which leaves the reader feeling slightly dizzy. As much as I loved the maps and definitions at the beginning, I don't feel that the author did justice to a fascinating period of history. I also feel that there was a definite lack of sympathy for the main topic of the book - namely the ancient Egyptians. I am not saying that my disappointment in this book will prevent me from seeking out this author in future, but next time I won't expect so much.
Rating:
Summary: touching and wise
Review: I liked Reflections in the Nile enormously. It stirred my heart and gave a lot of pleasure and food for thought. I was interested in Ancient Egypt on the hobby level in my youth and read a lot on it. I think this book is excellent in every respect, all angles covered have touch of excellency. The romance described is probably the dream of the heart of every woman with its purity and satisfaction, and the level of protection, the perfect combination and blend of all aspects of real love. Historical angle is also wonderful, to my mind. It may be not a strict historical truth but it makes one live and breathe in Ancient Egypt, be transferred there together with J.S. Frank's heroes and start to know it intimately. Though the events are placed in the time period not supported by modern science, etc., etc., the thorough historical detail make this book a high level egyptology fiction. It makes one realize things which could be found in scientific egyptological literature but as dry scientific facts don't penetrate the mind like the real texture of Ancient Egyptian life presented by J.S. Frank. For instance one starts to realize why we don't know the differences in Ancient Egypt's life through the ages. No technical, social, ethical, etc. progress is perceived from the Old Kindgom through the ages (except for Amenhotep IV (Akhenaton) reforms) and down to the Greek influence of the last centuries of the New Kingdom within almost 3 milleniums of Ancient Egypt history. When you read the book you perceive the rigidity of that society and start to realize, really feel how this lack of movement (or at least the lack of recording of such a movement) was possible. This book in its own genre, in its own right is a perfect literature. Wise, touching, stirring thought, stirring heart, and very enjoyable. There is nothing wrong with its having an old good happy end. Happy ends do happen sometimes and feed a reader's, a person's heart with positive emotions. I am looking forward to read more on similar subjects by this author. Good luck to her and long and fruitful writer's life. Marina Chilov.
Rating:
Summary: Very well researched,grabs the reader and holds them
Review: I picked this book up on a whim at Sams Wholesale. I am fascinated by ancient Egypt and the detail Ms.Frank has in the book is just astonishing....almost as if she herself had been there.Her descriptions are so vivid you can actually picture the people and the places in your mind....and the imagery is beautiful.I know I for one would LOVE to meet Lord Cheftu,he sounds sooooo sexy!!!!!Anyway,I've already read her 2nd book and I am waiting anxiously for her 3rd book.This lady knows how to write and she has herself a fan!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Didn't expect much - but I was spellbound!
Review: I picked up this book in a used book store and scanned the first page to see if I'd like it. The first line gushed over the "lapis sky" and "golden sands" so my expectations of its literary quality ranked at "trite". Still I love stories about ancient Egypt, so I gave it a try - and it blew me away! Reflections is a bona fide page turner. The world of Egypt came alive. I was impressed by how the author could make it so real, both in recounting history and in describing, in technicolor detail, the sensory experience. Also, Chloe's modern take on her new (very old) surroundings was fascinating and often funny (Ptah figurines as "Chia gods"). The author's mastery of the history was apparent to me. I now have a deeper understanding of the plagues and the exodus, and the impact they had on Egypt. I loved the idea that it happened in Hatshepsut's reign - its brilliant. The romance subplot was rather fomulaic, but definitely the best I've read. First, once you accept that a person could be flung back in time into someone else's body with no clue about the body's previous occupant, Chloe's little deception\ desire dance with Cheftu isn't that contrived. Second, unlike other romance stories, in this the lovers reveal their secrets closer to the middle than the end, so instead of cutting the story off with a fairy tale "happily ever after", the story continues to show how they struggle to come to terms with who each other is, and face their destiny together. Last but not least, the erotic scenes were absolutely toe-curling (this lady knows what she's writing about)! My only complaint is with the vague ending, but with all its merits, Reflections is still high up on my list of favorite novels.
Rating:
Summary: READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
Review: I read a lot of books. I tried to put this one down---and failed!!! I literally said, "Just a few more pages," for hours. This "first" novel reads as compellingly as one from a seasoned author. It's exciting, adventurous, and mysterious. It will awaken your imagination to history, and it is full of funny moments that will create great giggles. Interesting combination, huh?Suzanne is a delightful writer and lady. She's as charming and disarming as her main character, and she seems unstruck by the marketability of her gift for telling a story. Such a genuine and well-grounded artist is a treasure. She's made of the stuff that will sustain her for many novels to come--so much more the blessing for us.Renee Prindle-Jones, host of Books in Review, CC Television, Fort Worth, Texas
Rating:
Summary: READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
Review: I read a lot of books. I tried to put this one down---and failed!!! I literally said, "Just a few more pages," for hours. This "first" novel reads as compellingly as one from a seasoned author. It's exciting, adventurous, and mysterious. It will awaken your imagination to history, and it is full of funny moments that will create great giggles. Interesting combination, huh?
Suzanne is a delightful writer and lady. She's as charming and disarming as her main character, and she seems unstruck by the marketability of her gift for telling a story. Such a genuine and well-grounded artist is a treasure. She's made of the stuff that will sustain her for many novels to come--so much more the blessing for us.
Renee Prindle-Jones, host of Books in Review, CC Television, Fort Worth, Texas
Rating:
Summary: So Much Fun
Review: I really enjoyed this first installment. I waited on pins and needles for the second. I really emjoyed her alternate and plausable theory for Pharoh's identity. She knows history, theology and mythology and did a wonderful job bringing them together to creat a memorable book. I loved it so much I've reread it while waiting for the sequels.
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