Reflections in the Nile

Rating:
Summary: A Fantastical Time-Travelling Love Story
Review: I seem to have enjoyed this book a little less than some of the others who read it, though I did spend several late nights finishing it. While the author indeed brings Egypt to very vivid life, I felt she stuffed too much in it, and with conflicting results: the Exodus storyline was unecessary, and as an admirer of the real Hatchepsut I thought her treatment in the novel left a bit to be be desired. Plus, since the key characters aren't "really" Egyptian and the Egyptians all seem rather vain and/or depraved (while the Hebrews are all noble and virtuous as befitting their Biblical status), does the author love or hate the ancient Egyptians themselves, or only their motifs? I enjoyed the book up to about the halfway mark, then it sort of came apart for me and descendended into a Clan of the Cave Bear-esque potboiler. For true historical novels of this era, I will stick to Pauline Gedge's excellent books.However, I will read the author's next book--but in paperback.

Rating:
Summary: I made the time to finish this book in a day.
Review: I thought the premise was interesting: modern-time woman falls backwards into a somewhat known but still mysterious time in Earth's history; I was hoping the writing would live up to the concept. It did. I was drawn in by the first-person account of Chloe at the beginning, fascinated by a sudden shift in the telling and of the events, and kept waiting all the way through, never sure where we were eventually going or how we were going to make it. I say "we" because I was that drawn in. It was "we," not "she." I am looking forward to the next installment, and am, as ever, thrilled to find a new, interesting, unpredictable woman author

Rating:
Summary: Read this book!
Review: I tried to put this book down--and FAILED!!! I read lots of books. Only one other has gripped me so. I was so captivated by this intriguing novel, I found myself saying, "Just a few more pages," literally for hours. This first novel reads like one from a veteran. It's delightfully readable--even for someone who HAD no interest in time travel. Suzanne is a lovely person, as charming as her main character, and a gentle, disarming soul. She's made of the stuff that will sustain her through many novels--so much more the blessing for us. Renee Prindle-Jones, Host of Books in Review, CC Television, Fort Worth, Texas

Rating:
Summary: "Reflections" is a true page turner--suspenseful and sexy
Review: I walked into a little mystery book store and there was Suzanne Frank signing copies of her books. I had never heard of her but took the opportunity to have her sign one of the paperbacks, REFLECTIONS IN THE NILE. Finally got around to reading it six months later -- WHAT A TERRIFIC BOOK. I stayed up until 3 AM to finish it. Great historical background, funny 20th century commentaries, some sizzling sex scenes and loads of suspense. Can't wait to read the rest of her books.

Rating:
Summary: I loved this book!
Review: I was introduced to the time travel genre through the books of Diana Gabaldon. I didn't think anything could top that series. This was an exciting novel. I really couldn't put it down. There were so many devices that lifted this book to another level. The main character is not only transported to another time, she arrives in another body. She also has to worry about what an decadent Egyptian priestess is doing in her stead. I loved the use of the concept of "The Other", the voice that helped the main character Chloe assimilate into Egyptian life. I didn't expect to like this book, but it really won me over. I can't wait to read the next installment!

Rating:
Summary: Did not like this book.
Review: I would not recommend this book. The romance storyline was boring and predictable. Probably the worst book I have read so far this year.

Rating:
Summary: A fantastic read!
Review: I'm only giving it a nine because I need to leave room for her next book! Reflections In the Nile was the best book I've read all year. I couldn't put it down. I lead a reading group, and I'm glad we chose Frank's book. I love her writing style, and I recommend this book to all my friends.

Rating:
Summary: Best time-travel I ever read
Review: Just finished this book and I absolutely loved it. I don't usually like time travels because you have 2 pages of time travel and the rest just historical romance. However, in this one the author takes her character back to ancient Egypt and has her become an acutal person of that time period. There is also another character who travels back to that time period and of course they meet. This author really explores her time period which I really liked. The only thing that is driving me crazy is at the end she left me hanging and I can't wait for the next one, Great book.

Rating:
Summary: Arrrrgh.....frustrating!
Review: Let me just say I loved and hated this book at the same time. Unfortunately at the end I hated it more than I loved it. Hence the rating.

Let me first give props to Suzanne Frank for the story-line. While it begins completely cheesy with the typical romantic 'girl gets flung back in time to meet a man' storyline, she soon picks it up with real zest, and creates a bulletload full of problems for the heroine that kept me interested. I think that was the main reason that I finished reading this book, simply because I was never sure where she was going to head next with it, and that doesn't happen too often.

BUT.....

The characters....arrgh! Chloe is a real...alot of the time, or a complete fluffhead. She makes quite possibly some of the stupidest decisions in life, and has not a bit of spine to her. She is a real rug. And Cheftu, who undergoes a transformation mid-book (I won't spoil it for you) suddenly goes from strong, angry Egyptian to slobbering love-fiend. Yech.

Also, I feel that Frank was trying to find her niche with sticking the Biblical plagues in here. But they weren't written with enough sympathy and awe to 'get' the Christian audience, and the Egyptians weren't portrayed cleanly and likably enough to 'get' the fans of historical fiction. Frank seems to have a skeptical distaste for all of it, and I get the impression that she isn't a big fan of the Exodus herself, other than as a plot twist. So this book sort of flops and flounders on the wayside, stuck in the middle of both.

The ending is nothing more than a blatant cliffhanger that might have simply said "Buy the next book!" Or it might have and I had missed it.

Mostly what bothered me though, was that I have to wonder if this book was even EDITED! Mid story, the author switches from first person to third person, which made me stop in my tracks right there. The dialogue is bad enough to include 'Cool' as a response in several conversations, and the author uses descriptive words like 'goofy'. It made it a bit hard to swallow.

Also, alot of Frank's interesting plot ideas weren't clearly thought through. For example, Chloe inhabits the body of RaEm, and RaEm is able to provide her with historical tidbits and her opinion on things, almost like she's constantly in the back of her mind. But RaEm is switched into Chloe's modern body, and Chloe has no idea of what's going on? Why doesn't she get the same 'package-deal' that RaEm gets?

But I still finished it. So I don't know.

Rating:
Summary: Arrrrgh.....frustrating!
Review: Let me just say I loved and hated this book at the same time. Unfortunately at the end I hated it more than I loved it. Hence the rating.

Let me first give props to Suzanne Frank for the story-line. While it begins completely cheesy with the typical romantic 'girl gets flung back in time to meet a man' storyline, she soon picks it up with real zest, and creates a bulletload full of problems for the heroine that kept me interested. I think that was the main reason that I finished reading this book, simply because I was never sure where she was going to head next with it, and that doesn't happen too often.

BUT.....

The characters....arrgh! Chloe is a real...alot of the time, or a complete fluffhead. She makes quite possibly some of the stupidest decisions in life, and has not a bit of spine to her. She is a real rug. And Cheftu, who undergoes a transformation mid-book (I won't spoil it for you) suddenly goes from strong, angry Egyptian to slobbering love-fiend. Yech.

Also, I feel that Frank was trying to find her niche with sticking the Biblical plagues in here. But they weren't written with enough sympathy and awe to 'get' the Christian audience, and the Egyptians weren't portrayed cleanly and likably enough to 'get' the fans of historical fiction. Frank seems to have a skeptical distaste for all of it, and I get the impression that she isn't a big fan of the Exodus herself, other than as a plot twist. So this book sort of flops and flounders on the wayside, stuck in the middle of both.

The ending is nothing more than a blatant cliffhanger that might have simply said "Buy the next book!" Or it might have and I had missed it.

Mostly what bothered me though, was that I have to wonder if this book was even EDITED! Mid story, the author switches from first person to third person, which made me stop in my tracks right there. The dialogue is bad enough to include 'Cool' as a response in several conversations, and the author uses descriptive words like 'goofy'. It made it a bit hard to swallow.

Also, alot of Frank's interesting plot ideas weren't clearly thought through. For example, Chloe inhabits the body of RaEm, and RaEm is able to provide her with historical tidbits and her opinion on things, almost like she's constantly in the back of her mind. But RaEm is switched into Chloe's modern body, and Chloe has no idea of what's going on? Why doesn't she get the same 'package-deal' that RaEm gets?

But I still finished it. So I don't know.