Amber Morn

by Brandilyn Collins

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0310276411
• ISBN13: 9780310276418
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Hostage Situation In A Small Town

I loved this book. It is the first one I ever read by Brandilyn Collins but I will be reading more. "Amber Morn" is filled with action and suspense brought about through a hostage situation in a small town at a café where older people do a blog together. I finished reading this book in just two days. It held my interest and I was anxious to keep on reading. It is the last book in the Kanner Lake Series but I still enjoyed it even though I hadn't read the other three first. It has Christian overtones through it but does not preach at all. I liked the way it ended too.

Powerful conclusion

Wow....where do I start? Wow! Great book! When you finish a four part series and the characters have become so alive, it's sad to see it end. Simply put, Amber Morn is an incredible conclusion to the Kanner Lake series. The Java-Joint gang have all come to celebrate the signing of S-Man's contract. It's a beautiful morning, spirits are high, and everyone is bursting with happiness. Never in there wildest nightmares, could they imagine that in a few short minutes, three men would enter, shoot one man, and hold 12 others hostage. While the first three books are mystery/suspense, Amber Morn is an all out thriller. The characters we've grown quite fond of are put in a situation where their love and friendship is clearly visible. Each one willing to do whatever it takes to protect the others. Each one relying on God and those around them to make it till their ordeal is over. It's an amazing story of friendship and coming together in times of crisis. It's also an excellent glimpse at the flip side. A hardened family outside of God's love with two uncontrollable adult children. A mother unable to feel beyond her own pain to grasp what her family is doing. A family that sees injustice rather than their own flaws. A family that's willing to kill thirteen people just to see their convicted son freed from jail. An amazing contrast between misguided love and true devoted love. The end of Amber Morn is a nice conclusion to this series. It was truly one of the best four part series I've read in a while. I found myself totally involved in these character's lives and loving every minute of it. Excellent, excellent series.

A Fitting Finale

This is probably Brandilyn's best novel to date, and I've read them all, from her Bradleyville Series (women's fiction), to her Chelsea Adams and Hidden Faces Series', and finally the Kanner Lake Series. Before I read Amber Morn, I had stated unequivocally that Crimson Eve, the third book in the Kanner Lake set was the best. I was wrong. Amber Morn is a masterpiece of page-turning suspense with a cast of dozens. How Brandilyn managed to keep everyone straight is beyond me. Something I could never imagine attempting myself. And her mastery of plot twists and surprises hold true to form - and then some. This one's a bit different because you know who the bad guys are. They're right there 'in your face.' You just don't know what' they're going to do next. It is tricky to review a book of Brandilyn's without giving away any plot twists or spoilers of any sort, so I'll stop right here. I can say this. Don't read this book out of sequence. Matter of fact, I highly recommend--if you haven't already--start with book one, Violet Dawn, then Coral Moon, Crimson Eve, and finally Amber Morn. At the very least, read Crimson Eve before you read Amber Morn. If you like suspense, you'll LOVE this series.

Celebration Becomes Terror

Brandilyn has done it again! If you have read the first three books in the Kanner Lake series, this one does not disappoint. Brandilyn manages to close the series with a page- turner involving all of townspeople that you have come to know and love. If you have not read the other books, grab them all would be my first recommendation. If not, this book stands alone in its rich story and characters. Don't hesitate to pick it up. Do be sure to clear a couple of days on your calendar for you will be hard pressed to find a place to close the book and set it aside until the end. One Saturday morning, the patrons of Java Joint are gathered for a celebration, the signing of S-Man's book contract. The joy of the day is interrupted when three gunmen burst into the coffee shop and start shooting. One patron is shot and tossed outside. Police Chief Vince Edwards finds himself facing the most frightening situation of his career and the possibility of losing most of his friends in one horrible incident. Will he be able to negotiate with the trio holding the Java Joint hostage? Will he prevent anymore gunshots? Will the town of Kanner Lake ever recover from this final episode in the life of its residents? Buy the book and find out. It is well worth the purchase. When Brandilyn Collins calls her books 'Seatbelt Suspense,' she is not joking!

Tense, Painful, Tight....

Amber Morn is a big departure from the previous books in the series. Far more characters were given point of view scenes and the action focused heavily at the Java Joint. When I cracked the cover and read the first few pages I was uncertain how I'd end up feeling when it was all said and done. A group of gunmen and a public place full of innocents is ripped from way too many newspapers in way too many cities. I was far more horrified than if a minor character had shown up dead and I got to watch the mystery and ugliness unfold. This time I was forced to walk through the unfolding terror with no clue who might come out alive and who might not. Chickens beware, Amber Morn is intense. Nearing the end I began to think there was no way this could turn out pretty or even be resolved. Collins is a masterful writer. She pulled it off and it was believable. Interestingly, I'm glad she has closed the Kanner Lake series. I care enough about the characters that I want Collins to leave them alone and let them get on with the activities of living, in all meanings of the word. I'm glad a sneak peek at her next series shows up at the end of the book. I'm ready to follow her where she's headed next. If you are a Collins fan, you will be, too.