Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It “This book is another book in the Kanner Lake Series. This is the second book I've read by this author. Her books are good. They go quick but to me there is not a whole lot of substance. Her books will not stay with you if you know what I mean. This book gives away the killer too early in the...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“This book is another book in the Kanner Lake Series. This is the second book I've read by this author. Her books are good. They go quick but to me there is not a whole lot of substance. Her books will not stay with you if you know what I mean. This book gives away the killer too early in the story. It does have a nice twist to it concerning the main character though. If you like nice quick reads and a good story, then you will like this. If you want a book with more staying power, pass this by.”
Gerard Z wrote this review Tuesday, April 21 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“VIOLET DAWN is another riveting suspense thriller from Brandilyn Collins. Grabbing you in the first few pages with a bizarre discovery, Brandilyn knows how to hook her readers. Though some of the twists were a bit predictable, I didn’t mind. It gave me a moment to catch my breath. The characterization of the villain was a bit distracting, but oh so Brandilyn. I look forward to the next installment of the Kanner Lake Series.”
tamaratilley wrote this review Sunday, April 27 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Brandilyn Collins has proven once again that she is a writer of immense talent in this inventive and exhilarating new series. Violet Dawn introduces readers to the mystery and intrigue that surrounds the citizens of quiet and peaceful Kanner Lake, Idaho. Paige Williams has recently moved to Kanner Lake to escape a troubled past. When a body is mysteriously left for her to find she is faced with a dilemma she wants know part of. Going to the police is the obvious right choice, but doing so will no doubt resurrect her dark past. Kanner Lake will never be the same as the town is drawn into a frightening search for truth about a strange new resident and an unidentified killer.
jachism wrote this review Tuesday, February 5 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Brandilyn Collin's Kanner Lake Series is hands down her best work. The fictional town of Kanner Lake is a delightful creation, full of cleverly crafted characters that are quirky, loveable, and memorable. From the twisting and turning plots to the shocking revelations, Collins proves she is a master of the suspense genre. Each story in the series is vastly different and yet all are equally entertaining and riveting. Embedded in the suspenseful storylines we find nuggets of hope and faith that are both insightful and encouraging. This series is highly recommended for fans of suspense thrillers and mystery. (Originally reviewed as a series for Christian Library Journal)”
“Paige Williams, on the run from a nightmarish past, came to Kanner Lake seeking refuge and respite for her soul, wanting a chance to start over. She longs to find a place she can truly belong and dreams of a "soul sister," a forever friend that will accept and love her inspite of her sordid past. Instead, mere weeks after her arrival, she encounters a corpse in the hot tub of her rental home - and not just any corpse, either. The body is Edna San, a Hollywood actress and Kanner Lake's infamous resident celebrity. Fearing the discovery of her past, Paige panics and dumps the body in the lake. However, instead of solving her problems, Paige's position grows more precarious because she knows a killer is watching her every move... Ms. San's murder sends shockwaves through the tight-knit community. The danger that lurks in the shadows, threatening Kanner Lake's peaceful, small-town charm forces more than one resident to confront the scars dwelling the shadows of their own hearts. Bailey Truitt, owner of the local coffee shop the Java Joint, is struggling to cope with her husband John's declining health, while police chief Vince Edwards fears the dissolution of his marriage that has been paralyzed by grief due to the impending one-year anniversary of his son's death in Iraq. Though Edna was almost universally disliked, her murder serves as a catalyst for Paige and other Kanner Lake residents to allow the light of God's grace to heal the fear, shame, grief, and worry held close in the deepest recesses of their hearts. This may be hard for the slew of die-hard Brandilyn Collins fans out there to imagine, but Violet Dawn is the first novel I've read by this author. I was absolutely hooked from the first pages. Collins structures her novel in a series of short, snappy chapters that keep the plot moving (and the suspense building) at a rapid-fire pace. Paige's darkly-shrouded past is revealed in a series of vivid, intense flashback scenes. These are sprinkled throughout the novel and gradually reveal the history behind the violence that has come to Kanner Lake. This is an effective hook that helps draw readers into Collins' skillfully crafted thriller - she doles out pieces of a puzzle that intrigue you with its as yet unanswered questions and takes your breath away by constantly racheting up the suspense level. In short, this is a novel you'll want to give yourself a block of several hours to enjoy. Generally speaking, I would never classify myself as a fan of crime thrillers -- but Violet Dawn has opened my eyes to a terrifically talented author who pens what I suspect are highly addictive novels in exactly that genre. Collins very effectively illustrates God and faith as a natural part of her narrative. The tone is never preachy, in fact quite the opposite -- it's wonderful to see an author who shines the light of faith into some very dark, harrowing circumstances and allows its impact to naturally unfold. I also appreciated how Ms. Collins was able to constantly raise the level of danger and suspense without sacrificing the human element of the story - and in this case, that is one of the novel's strongest points. With this book, Brandilyn Collins is building a community for her readers to know and care about. You can visit Scenes and Beans, the official Kanner Lake blog, where fans flesh out the world of Kanner Lake by posting blogs as various characters from the novel. ”
Ruth wrote this review Friday, August 31 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Violet Dawn by Brandilyn Collins is a fabulous, twisted wild ride of a read. When Paige Williams finds a body floating in her hot tub, she goes to drastic steps to hide the crime and keep her identity a secret, but who would set her up that way and what will they do next? This book was my first read by Collins, and it certainly won't be my last. This is the first in a new series, Kanner Lake, and Collins does an admirable job of establishing this small town's atmosphere and characters all while building the mystery of who killed Edna San. The narration jumps through several characters, and Collins feeds out information a little at a time building suspense to a nail-biting intensity. There are several other authors trying to write books like this, but end up resorting to potboiler plots. Collins is the real deal.”
clockstein wrote this review Wednesday, August 29 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Great, fast, entertaining read. Highly recommend!”
Portraitwriter wrote this review Monday, July 23 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Exciting and mysterious. ”
M. C. Pearson wrote this review Saturday, August 11 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
