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Summary: Found the Biblical References Annoying and Trite
Review: Ms. Frank triggers in on the scant amount of information in the Bible to base her Egyptian/Isrealite saga of a woman thrust back into time during 'Ten Commandments' era Egypt. There is no historical validity to her assumption that this episode in the Bible took place during the reign of Egypt's only female pharoah. In fact, historians place the Exodus during the time of Ramses II. While interesting and integral to the story, I find Frank's bending of the facts felonious to the first rule of writing: make your story believable and indisputable. Sorry, but this one fails the initial test.
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Summary: WARNING--Highly addictive reading!
Review: Ms. Frank weaves a stunning and intricate tale with characters you come to know and love. When you pick up Reflections in the Nile, get comfortable, unplug the phone, and take this fascinating journey through time. Once you enter, you'll be hooked. J. Suzanne Frank, we want more
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Summary: History Hater Changes Tune with Reflections in the Nile.
Review: Never one for historical novels I must say that I was completely captivated by Reflections in the Nile. Even though I am a Librarian I do not have much time to read and so I stick pretty closely to my first love - Mystery. A friend recommended this read and I simply could not get through it fast enough. Reflections has all of the elements of a good mystery plus so much historical information that you wonder at the author ever actually having time to write. It is compelling, surprising and spellbinding. With the Biblical references it seems all the more real and I too, cannot wait to take the next leg of this voyage in the next installment
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Summary: READ THIS BOOK!!!
Review: READ THIS BOOK!!!!! 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. It's delightfully readable--even for someone who HAD no interest in time travel. 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
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Summary: READ THIS BOOK!!!
Review: READ THIS BOOK!!!!! 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. It's delightfully readable--even for someone who HAD no interest in time travel. 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
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Summary: Far from a classic
Review: Reflections has a good pace, and once in awhile there's a laugh-out-loud moment, but I couldn't warm up to the lead characters all that much. They were too busy snapping and gripping with each other and other people for me to care about them. For a better time-travel/romance, I highly recommend the Diana Gabaldon series. For an Ancient Egypt story, brave the bulk of Margaret George's 'Memoirs of Cleopatra'.
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Summary: Disappointing
Review: Reflections in the Nile is an odd book. It takes place in an interesting moment of Ancient Egyptian history (namely, the Exodus), and portrays Ancient Egyptian society pretty accurately, but... Why does it read so much like religious propaganda? The way the plagues of Egypt are portrayed --truly magical, as per the Biblical account-- left me uncomfortable. I guess the time-travelling deus ex machina that gets the book going felt like SF, not Fantasy. This probably won't bother too many people beside me. Particularly irritating was the cheap stab at scientists and skeptics taken by bringing forth a magus spouting a modern-sounding naturalistic explanation for the plagues --whilst the context has by now firmly established them as truly magical. The "Harlequin" element is too strong, however. The protagonists spend too much time rutting (there is no other word for it). The reactions and introspections of Chloe when she and Cheftu become separated from the Hebrews were incomprehensible --they should have been worried about dying of thirst and hunger, for God's sake! The introduction of Thief, the cute lion cub, was also laughably improbable. Blame the Auel influence? Then there is the French. There is little of it, but it still manages to be botched. Since I am a native French speaker, this seriously compromised my suspension of disbelief. It is unclear whether we should blame Dr. Diane Boyd (credited for those translations in the Acknowledgements) for incompetency or J. Suzanne Frank for not bothering to get a French speaker to check the passages. "Le Dieu c'est bon" indeed. The ending is extraordinarily abrupt and unsatisfactory. I now see the book is the first of a trilogy, which explains that. Because the other books stray from the Ancient Egyptian setting, but also because this book was such a mixed read, I probably won't bother with them. The Epilogue (a.k.a. Writer's Notes) makes a point of bringing forth the historical arguments for setting the Exodus in Hatschepsut's time, but doesn't say a word about the destruction of Minoan civilisation which was clearly mentioned in the book as coincident with the plagues of Egypt. That is a very serious omission. Clearly, Frank is no Poul Anderson. In summary, the book was not as bad as Smith's River God, and definitely not in the same league as Tarr's and Gedge's work.
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Summary: A timeless romance, with the Bible providing the backdrop
Review: Reflections In The Nile kept me enthralled as history unfolded and the love story of Chloe and Cheftu was told. J. Suzanne Frank has placed this unlikely couple on a Biblical stage. How they came together will surprise you; their hot romance will fill you with a lover's desire. I could not stop turning the pages and am very glad that this book is merely the first in a trilogy. How long will I have to wait???
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Summary: One of the best books...
Review: Reflections moved me incredibly. It was one of those books where you just have to stay up late into the night just to finish it so you can go about the next day normally without being distracted by wanting to read it. The book was very well written.. Cloe and Cheftu were destined to be together, and the whole bit on the Exodus was engrossing. I cried and cried. Even when they had to leave Thief...
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Summary: Perfect..just Perfect.
Review: Suzanne Frank has spent her entire life building up to write this book, and it shows. Her research on Ancient Egypt was extensive and up-to-date. I was drawn into a world of romance and mysticism for an entire day. Time flew by unnoticed because I simply could not leave this book unread! The history is elaborately explored, the characters are intriguing, and the romance is heart-rending. This is that one book I have been searching for years for. It is perfection.
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