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Kanner Lake #4
Amber Morn
The whole thing couldn’t have taken more than sixty seconds.Bailey hung on to the counter, dazed. If she let go, she’d collapse—and the twitching fingers of one of the gunmen would pull a trigger. The rest of her group huddled in frozen shock.Dear God, tell me this is a dream …The shooter’s teeth clenched. “Anybody who moves is dead.”On a beautiful Saturday morning the nationally read “Scenes and Beans” bloggers gather at Java Joint for a special celebration. Chaos erupts when three gunmen burst in and take them all hostage. One person is shot and dumped outside.Police Chief Vince Edwards must negotiate with the desperate trio. The gunmen insist on communicating through the “comments” section of the blog—so all the world can hear their story. What they demand, Vince can’t possibly provide. But if he doesn’t, over a dozen beloved Kanner Lake citizens will die …
315 pages, Paperback
First published March 18, 2008
23 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
About the author
Brandilyn Collins
50 books641 followersBrandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®--fast-paced, character-driven suspense with myriad twists and an interwoven thread of faith.
Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is a sought-after teacher and speaker at writers' conferences.
Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is a sought-after teacher and speaker at writers' conferences.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
August 21, 2018
This was an action packed ending to the Kanner Lake series. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and will miss them.
The whole story revolves around a hostage situation which lasted about 6 hours. The author was smart to write a few chapters from the viewpoint of some of the supporting characters, which kept the story interesting and from feeling dragged out.
Until the end, I was not sure if T.J was innocent or not. I enjoyed this suspense and will definitely read more from Brandilyn Collins.
Recommended to fans of Terri Blackstock and Lynette Eason.
The whole story revolves around a hostage situation which lasted about 6 hours. The author was smart to write a few chapters from the viewpoint of some of the supporting characters, which kept the story interesting and from feeling dragged out.
Until the end, I was not sure if T.J was innocent or not. I enjoyed this suspense and will definitely read more from Brandilyn Collins.
Recommended to fans of Terri Blackstock and Lynette Eason.
November 11, 2017
Amber Morn is the fourth book in the Kanner Lake series by Brandilyn Collins.
My rating is more like a 3.5 and not because the book wasn’t a good one, but more-so because it didn’t seem to live up to the excitement as the other three books in the series did for me.
There were intense moments in the book. I’m not gonna lie, but I felt that the book dragged on for most of the story and left me bored in spots. Brandilyn Collins is a master at suspense, but this book lacked that for me, especially because the other three books in this series really left me on the edge of my seat.
It was nice to return to Kanner Lake with the beloved characters and it was nice to see them survive yet another crazy event, but Amber Morn was definitely my least favorite in the series.
Overall, the story was still good and I found the plot interesting. I just preferred the first three books a little more.
My rating is more like a 3.5 and not because the book wasn’t a good one, but more-so because it didn’t seem to live up to the excitement as the other three books in the series did for me.
There were intense moments in the book. I’m not gonna lie, but I felt that the book dragged on for most of the story and left me bored in spots. Brandilyn Collins is a master at suspense, but this book lacked that for me, especially because the other three books in this series really left me on the edge of my seat.
It was nice to return to Kanner Lake with the beloved characters and it was nice to see them survive yet another crazy event, but Amber Morn was definitely my least favorite in the series.
Overall, the story was still good and I found the plot interesting. I just preferred the first three books a little more.
November 29, 2022
Enjoy this author and her ability to develop her characters and plot. Good to read a crime drama without the unnecessary foul language and extreme graphics of violence. A family chooses to terrorize a group of friends as customers in a coffee shop because of the wrongful conviction and imprisonment of their youngest son. The siege deepens their friendship and faith as they endure their ordeal together.
March 9, 2012
The last of the Kanner Lake series. I enjoyed this one somewhat more than some of the others. This one dealt with a hostage situation in town at Java Joint, the local coffee shop. So a bit different and I was ready for that! A good way to tie up all the characters.
March 4, 2008
Exciting mystery about a hostage situation. Good conclusion to the series.
June 28, 2017
Will miss my beloved Kanner Lake family
The final book in the series didn't disappoint. And yes it was a roller coaster ride. 5 stars for gripping suspense and drawing me in to the lives of the Kanner Lake crew once more. I felt every emotion they did. That's the sign of a gifted author. I had to intentionally put the book down to make it last, knowing I would be sad to finish it. One night it took the Kindle running out of battery to force my hand. So glad I awoke to a few more chapters. As a believer I loved seeing this reflection of God's grace as it happens in real life. For those who like a clean read full of life's reality but without gratuitous content this one will satisfy. Would be thrilled if Ms. Collins is inspired to bring them back for one more adventure.
The final book in the series didn't disappoint. And yes it was a roller coaster ride. 5 stars for gripping suspense and drawing me in to the lives of the Kanner Lake crew once more. I felt every emotion they did. That's the sign of a gifted author. I had to intentionally put the book down to make it last, knowing I would be sad to finish it. One night it took the Kindle running out of battery to force my hand. So glad I awoke to a few more chapters. As a believer I loved seeing this reflection of God's grace as it happens in real life. For those who like a clean read full of life's reality but without gratuitous content this one will satisfy. Would be thrilled if Ms. Collins is inspired to bring them back for one more adventure.
September 24, 2019
After reading and disliking the previous book, number three in the Kanner Lake series, I was happy that I enjoyed Amber Morn, seemingly appropriately written about a hostage situation. I don’t think that the drama in this story would be as great, however, if a reader had not read the other books and gotten to know the characters. I guess that I enjoyed Amber Morn and Violet Dawn more that books two and three. Lastly, I have no idea whose fault it is that all four of the Kindle ebooks in this series have so doggone many errors (at least the last two mainly only involved hyphens that needed to be removed), and maybe it’s just me, but the errors REALLY distracted me from the stories. So I’m happy that I didn’t buy these books - only checked them out - with their being in this shape.
January 11, 2018
Well, maybe it hovers between three and four stars, really. A very well written, intense hostage situation back with the cast of characters in Kanner Lake. Just as with a book in cozy mystery series genre, you wonder how this small, likable town could possibly have so many dire situations happen! You feel you’d like to visit, but, goodness, would it be safe?! This is not a cozy mystery series...a cozy “seatbelt suspense” series? (Seatbelt suspense is what the author calls her writing style due to the fast pace and unsuspected twist and turns.) This one was pretty intense, too. A real page turner.
August 24, 2020
3.5⭐️
TJ Wicksell is an 18 year old boy charged and sentenced with murder, while he and his family claim he is innocent. As the justice system turns a blind eye to their pleas of an appeal, Jim’s father and two brothers take matters in their own hands and are determined to force the world to listen.
Meanwhile, a group of church friends gather at Java Joint to celebrate Essman’s official signing of a book deal. This coffee shop, however, may end up being the last place for a celebration as the three Wicksell men zero in on the coffee shop as their target for a very specific reason.
I enjoyed the storyline and concept and truly appreciated the lack of romance in this Christian suspense novel, however I didn’t connect with the writing.
One aspect I did think was clever and unique, was the element of the gunmen and policemen communicating through the comment section of the coffee shop owner’s blog!
TJ Wicksell is an 18 year old boy charged and sentenced with murder, while he and his family claim he is innocent. As the justice system turns a blind eye to their pleas of an appeal, Jim’s father and two brothers take matters in their own hands and are determined to force the world to listen.
Meanwhile, a group of church friends gather at Java Joint to celebrate Essman’s official signing of a book deal. This coffee shop, however, may end up being the last place for a celebration as the three Wicksell men zero in on the coffee shop as their target for a very specific reason.
I enjoyed the storyline and concept and truly appreciated the lack of romance in this Christian suspense novel, however I didn’t connect with the writing.
One aspect I did think was clever and unique, was the element of the gunmen and policemen communicating through the comment section of the coffee shop owner’s blog!
March 23, 2021
Intense, thrilling, and definitely a page turner, this is another great book by Brandilyn Collins. I definitely felt like I was on a fast roller coaster ride, as she likes to describe her plots in the introduction. This was my favorite of the Kanner Lake series. It involves a hostage situation, and many of the main characters from the series are involved. If you like to be kept on the edge of your seat, this is a great read which also delves into justice vs revenge. If you like milder mysteries, it might not be your cup of tea.
October 22, 2018
WHOA! Amber Morn brings the Kanner Lake Series to a spectacular conclusion! I have enjoyed getting to know the residents and following their lives. These characters are spunky and quirky. I know you will enjoy them as much as I did.
August 13, 2017
Got bogged down in minutiae
February 18, 2018
Great series!
May 23, 2018
Good story.
May 24, 2021
Best in the series
July 20, 2021
Learned something about life.
July 20, 2022
Great thriller about hostage situations that is also very inspiring!
August 2, 2023
Number 4 of the Kanner Lake series with all our favorites at Java Joint. As well as the mystery can stand alone in an awesome tense nail biting read.
May 1, 2025
I enjoyed the others in the series but this one was hard for me to finish. It seemed to drag out and just wasn't as engaging as the 1st 3 books in the series.
August 12, 2009
Java Joint has been the place to be in Kanner Lake for all the latest happenings. It's the setting for hometown news on the "Scenes and Beans" blog.
The regulars were going to really celebrate S-Man's, aka Ted Dawson, contract signing for his next two books. Wilbur is Wilbur, fussing over 'his' stool in the coffee shop. Bailey Truitt ran the shop.
Just as Ted was about to sign his contract, Kent Wicksell and his two sons, Brad and Mitch, barge in and hold the 12 people hostage, two of whom are teenagers, until his son, T.J., is released from prison on a murder conviction that the family believes he is innocent of. Initially, one officer, Kent, is shot while trying to draw his gun. He's thrown out the door like a sack of potatoes and left for dead, with a note stuffed on him for Vince Edwards, Chief of Police, demanding the release of T. J. before he will let the hostages go.
Kent's two sons proceed to hang black plastic all around the windows of the cafe to stop any sharpshooters from taking them out. Kent communicates with Vince, who is the hostage negotiator, through the 'Scenes and Beans' blog and later by telephone. Kent demands that his son's plea be read on TV. However, there is no TV in the cafe. Arrangements for made for the release of the two teenagers for the TV.
The speech is read by two stations. In the meantime, someone goes out to Kent's home to speak to the wife. Things go from bad to worse. Kent is riled. Gunfire erupts. He gives Vince one hour to release T.J. or the hostages are killed one at a time.
The intensity of the standoff is felt throughout the whole book, as minutes tick by, blogs are written, and phone calls are made. It keeps you turning the pages.
Brandilyn is an excellent writer of suspense. This one will not disappoint, although it is very different that the other books in the series.
The regulars were going to really celebrate S-Man's, aka Ted Dawson, contract signing for his next two books. Wilbur is Wilbur, fussing over 'his' stool in the coffee shop. Bailey Truitt ran the shop.
Just as Ted was about to sign his contract, Kent Wicksell and his two sons, Brad and Mitch, barge in and hold the 12 people hostage, two of whom are teenagers, until his son, T.J., is released from prison on a murder conviction that the family believes he is innocent of. Initially, one officer, Kent, is shot while trying to draw his gun. He's thrown out the door like a sack of potatoes and left for dead, with a note stuffed on him for Vince Edwards, Chief of Police, demanding the release of T. J. before he will let the hostages go.
Kent's two sons proceed to hang black plastic all around the windows of the cafe to stop any sharpshooters from taking them out. Kent communicates with Vince, who is the hostage negotiator, through the 'Scenes and Beans' blog and later by telephone. Kent demands that his son's plea be read on TV. However, there is no TV in the cafe. Arrangements for made for the release of the two teenagers for the TV.
The speech is read by two stations. In the meantime, someone goes out to Kent's home to speak to the wife. Things go from bad to worse. Kent is riled. Gunfire erupts. He gives Vince one hour to release T.J. or the hostages are killed one at a time.
The intensity of the standoff is felt throughout the whole book, as minutes tick by, blogs are written, and phone calls are made. It keeps you turning the pages.
Brandilyn is an excellent writer of suspense. This one will not disappoint, although it is very different that the other books in the series.
October 15, 2010
The whole thing couldn’t have taken more than sixty seconds.
Bailey hung on to the counter, dazed. If she let go, she’d collapse—and the twitching fingers of one of the gunmen would pull a trigger. The rest of her group huddled in frozen shock.
Dear God, tell me this is a dream …
The shooter’s teeth clenched. “Anybody who moves is dead.”
On a beautiful Saturday morning the nationally read “Scenes and Beans” bloggers gather at Java Joint for a special celebration. Chaos erupts when three gunmen burst in and take them all hostage. One person is shot and dumped outside.
Police Chief Vince Edwards must negotiate with the desperate trio. The gunmen insist on communicating through the “comments” section of the blog—so all the world can hear their story. What they demand, Vince can’t possibly provide. But if he doesn’t, over a dozen beloved Kanner Lake citizens will die …
My Review - This book was good from the beginning. It upset me a few times in how stupid the people could be. I can say that I'm going to miss the Kanner Lake citizens. I wish I could have learned more about Bailey and her husband, John. But also about S-man and Leslie. AND lastly of Carla and her daughter, Brittany. All that being said it couldn't have ended any better. I loved the ending, yes I said I loved it! (I hardly ever love endings of books, movies or anything really!)
Bailey hung on to the counter, dazed. If she let go, she’d collapse—and the twitching fingers of one of the gunmen would pull a trigger. The rest of her group huddled in frozen shock.
Dear God, tell me this is a dream …
The shooter’s teeth clenched. “Anybody who moves is dead.”
On a beautiful Saturday morning the nationally read “Scenes and Beans” bloggers gather at Java Joint for a special celebration. Chaos erupts when three gunmen burst in and take them all hostage. One person is shot and dumped outside.
Police Chief Vince Edwards must negotiate with the desperate trio. The gunmen insist on communicating through the “comments” section of the blog—so all the world can hear their story. What they demand, Vince can’t possibly provide. But if he doesn’t, over a dozen beloved Kanner Lake citizens will die …
My Review - This book was good from the beginning. It upset me a few times in how stupid the people could be. I can say that I'm going to miss the Kanner Lake citizens. I wish I could have learned more about Bailey and her husband, John. But also about S-man and Leslie. AND lastly of Carla and her daughter, Brittany. All that being said it couldn't have ended any better. I loved the ending, yes I said I loved it! (I hardly ever love endings of books, movies or anything really!)
August 17, 2014
Another great suspense novel by Brandilyn Collins. Although this book is the 4th in the Kanner Lake series, the reader does not need to have read the prior books in the series to follow the plot in this one. Although reading the prior books would give a little more insight into some of the characters, that lack of knowledge definitely does not detract from this novel. In Amber Morn, 3 armed men charge into one of Kanner Lake's Java Joint, the local place to have coffee, take the customers present as hostage and barricade themselves inside with lots of ammunition. Their goal is to force the law enforcement officers to free a younger male member of the family who was incarcerated for heinous crime against a young woman. Vince Edwards, the local chief of police, is the negotiator with the father in the group of 3 men. It was hard to put this book down once I started reading it---watching to see what would develop next between the 'bad guys' and the law enforcement people. Meshed within that drama was the personal dramas of the people trapped inside the cafe.
June 21, 2013
In this final offering of the Kanner Lake series, we find most of the characters we have come to know and love celebrating one of their own's fame (or soon to be fame). Something terribly wrong goes with the celebration when the coffee shop is taken over by crazed men. For the whole book, the scene is centered around the hostage situation. You wonder with each page who will survive and who will be killed. Knowing that this is the last book in the series, I thought surely some one that I had gotten to know would be killed. The ending has a surprise twist that I didn't see coming. And if you're reading through tears of relief, you may miss it. So be sure to read the last few chapters twice. There is one bit of truth that I learned from this book of fiction. If you blog, be careful what you say, because you don't really know what evil may be reading it.
May 3, 2010
I really enjoyed these books... each set in the same town, so a bit unrealistic that all of these events and murders would happen in such a small place, but still very good reads. What I liked was that the characters were the same, so you get to know them and the town. As long as you can get past the believability factor that so many bad things occurred in such a small place in a short time frame, it's totally worth reading them all. I didn't read them back to back, but spread them out amongst other books.
October 24, 2013
What a great read! From the time I started reading, it was difficult to put it down! It was the third book in the series, but stood well alone. The characters were well-developed and the suspense was unbelievable. I will be reading Ms. Collins books for a while - I cannot praise her skills enough as a suspense author!
July 6, 2015
I love the suspense and surprises that this author reveals in her books and I was drawn to this series having spent summers at the cabin in Idaho. It is the perfect suspense thriller for a sunny summer afternoon
April 18, 2008
Good book.
October 1, 2009
Excellent Series!
October 10, 2008
Just started this book. I don't know if she'll add another book to the Kanner Lake series but it seems to get better as it goes on.
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December 31, 2008F Col
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews