What do you think?
Rate this book
Hunter's Find
Amanda's Return
Returning to help the mob was not what Mandy had in mind when she joined witness protection with Hunt.
After a move and name change, Amanda thought her days with dealing with the FBI and Mob were over. Her past comes back to haunt her as Eddie, the right hand man of the kingpin himself tracks her down, claiming to need her help. Amanda’s instinct is to refuse, until she discover what it is he needs. The return of the kingpin’s son, Angelo.
Vince Menusco’s men are being killed off with no explanation of who is behind it. Learning of Angelo’s disappearance is enough for Amanda to agree return to the streets of New York and help find him. Against her wishes, Hunt goes along to help.
Even after getting Angelo to safety, Eddie refuses to free Amanda from their deal. Threatening her family, he insists she puts an end to the killings. Finding out who is causing them and why was more than Mandy was prepared to deal with.
After a move and name change, Amanda thought her days with dealing with the FBI and Mob were over. Her past comes back to haunt her as Eddie, the right hand man of the kingpin himself tracks her down, claiming to need her help. Amanda’s instinct is to refuse, until she discover what it is he needs. The return of the kingpin’s son, Angelo.
Vince Menusco’s men are being killed off with no explanation of who is behind it. Learning of Angelo’s disappearance is enough for Amanda to agree return to the streets of New York and help find him. Against her wishes, Hunt goes along to help.
Even after getting Angelo to safety, Eddie refuses to free Amanda from their deal. Threatening her family, he insists she puts an end to the killings. Finding out who is causing them and why was more than Mandy was prepared to deal with.
- GenresContemporaryThriller
Paperback
First published July 27, 2012
About the author
June Kramin
26 books51 followersWife, Mother, Writer, Lunatic. Not necessarily in that order.
"There is a fine line between genius and crazy... I like to use that line as a jump rope!"
June, who prefers to go by Bug, was born in Philadelphia but moved to Maui, Hawaii when she was four. She met her “Prince Charming” on Kauai and is currently living “Happily Ever After” on a hobby farm in a small town in Minnesota.
Her son and daughter are her greatest accomplishments. She takes pride in embarrassing them every chance she gets.
Being hopelessly addicted to 80's music is her super power.
"There is a fine line between genius and crazy... I like to use that line as a jump rope!"
June, who prefers to go by Bug, was born in Philadelphia but moved to Maui, Hawaii when she was four. She met her “Prince Charming” on Kauai and is currently living “Happily Ever After” on a hobby farm in a small town in Minnesota.
Her son and daughter are her greatest accomplishments. She takes pride in embarrassing them every chance she gets.
Being hopelessly addicted to 80's music is her super power.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 17, 2014
You can read this well paced action-adventure romance as an adrenaline rush, or you can read a bit deeper and catch the subtle battles beneath the war. If you haven't read Hunter's Find, I wouldn't skip it. It's possible to read this book and understand what's going on but it won't be as interesting, trust me.
Honestly...? I wasn't sure I wanted to read Amanda's Return. I loved Hunter's Find, the conflict, the confusion, the confrontation of idealistic naivety and reality; the role reversals that weren't anything but a man and a woman living up to their full potential. What troubled me at the thought of a sequel is how easy it would be for full potential to equate with thuggery - is that a word. I dreaded seeing Amanda devolving in to a characterization of a female bully with semi-automatic style. There were some tense moments, and a few when I just wanted to give up on her, but overall, Ms. Kramin pulls it off, again.
Writing is sharper than that double edged sword and even when Hunter and Amanda are fussing over ovulation - you feel every single word. Secondary characters are believable, rich and many - which I happen to adore. I get tired of the two best friends, boss or parent, and love interest being the only other characters involved in a story. How many of us live in such a vacuum of acquaintances? The dialog is groovy, advances the story and character development without being exhaustingly witty. Humor is just right, gallows and pathos topped with word play that eases the transition from one scene to the next so you can catch your breath. Best of all, Ms. Kramin is not afraid to reveal just how inconsistent people are. She exposes our petty rationales of what is good or right for US isn't always true for THEM without shoving it down your throat, well, much. With flourish, she flaunts truth like demanding mercy for ourselves but screw the jerk that cuts us off on the highway, they deserved to crash and burn not just get a ticket. We know it is wrong to BE that way but a little vicarious enjoyment of someone else being all Midnight Run or Blues Brothers is well, perfectly fine, right?
There is just the right balance between the loyalty of family - that unconditional love none of us should but often do take for granted - and doing what's *right*. The world Amanda walked away from hasn't really changed and neither has Amanda, not at her core. For all her big talk and bone breaking abilities, she still believes she can Fix Things for those she loves, whatever it takes. Fortunately for the Menusco's, there's enough of the Old Amanda to use and she's willing to allow that, if she gets what she wants. It's a slippery slope, and as I said, it troubled me even before I started reading and didn't really fade, not even at the end. I imagine Amanda at 60 will still be trying to fix everyone and everything in her world ... only then they'll call her an interfering old bat and no one will care that she's still *hot*. I'd probably like to know her then.
In other words, yes, Amanda is still the uber strong woman. So much so that us lesser women might find her obnoxiously overbearing. That is, except for the fact she's safely in a book, not living next door or two cubicles away getting all the glory while we work just as hard though it still hasn't occurred to us to kick the arse of the boss's son as a legitimate route to a raise. Her reflections on motherhood, being a wife and daughter-in-law are all spot-on but they seem less real once she's shoving her way back in to The Business. Hunter's unwavering support is stunning (and pretty miraculous considering) as he takes a walk on her side of the street where no one is really what they appear to be, except his wife and at times, she forgets just how well he knows her. I liked those parts best - his pinches of Remember Me? Us? Why we are here? Good ... just checking in, now, let's have sex, yes I mean now, what's wrong with now?
BTW, there are NO graphic sex scenes in this books. The implication is there, the innuendo is played up, the locations are numerous, and the afterglow endearing; however it's mostly fade to black so for those that hate stories slowed by paragraphs of sex or those desperate for the same - you've been warned.
The plot was confusing. It was supposed to be, why else would The Family bring in an outsider to track down the shooter. The deductive reasoning of Sherlock Holmes would've been worthless here. He'd have needed too large a string map and gotten tangled up designing his social network connections thereby missing the next clue. No, it was better to strap in and catch the clues on the fly. Reaction to lies, betrayals, assassinations and near misses was the method of the day. In this case it worked out in the end. I doubt it would work on actual streets, but it sure was interesting! I was surprised by who was behind it all though it made perfect sense at the reveal. I want to say more but it would be a spoiler and I don't do that.
ARG how hard it is to *not* do that -- I just deleted three paragraphs of ah ha and Oh Yeah and well, darn. If anyone wants to discuss this later: e-mail me, we can wallow in it all! Which is to say, this is a book and characters you invest in, feel something about and remember even when the story is done. A keeper for my e-reader and definitely an author worth watching for even groovier things from (no pressure intended Ms. Kramin).
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Read more of my reviews at Page Traveler E-Book Reviews
Honestly...? I wasn't sure I wanted to read Amanda's Return. I loved Hunter's Find, the conflict, the confusion, the confrontation of idealistic naivety and reality; the role reversals that weren't anything but a man and a woman living up to their full potential. What troubled me at the thought of a sequel is how easy it would be for full potential to equate with thuggery - is that a word. I dreaded seeing Amanda devolving in to a characterization of a female bully with semi-automatic style. There were some tense moments, and a few when I just wanted to give up on her, but overall, Ms. Kramin pulls it off, again.
Writing is sharper than that double edged sword and even when Hunter and Amanda are fussing over ovulation - you feel every single word. Secondary characters are believable, rich and many - which I happen to adore. I get tired of the two best friends, boss or parent, and love interest being the only other characters involved in a story. How many of us live in such a vacuum of acquaintances? The dialog is groovy, advances the story and character development without being exhaustingly witty. Humor is just right, gallows and pathos topped with word play that eases the transition from one scene to the next so you can catch your breath. Best of all, Ms. Kramin is not afraid to reveal just how inconsistent people are. She exposes our petty rationales of what is good or right for US isn't always true for THEM without shoving it down your throat, well, much. With flourish, she flaunts truth like demanding mercy for ourselves but screw the jerk that cuts us off on the highway, they deserved to crash and burn not just get a ticket. We know it is wrong to BE that way but a little vicarious enjoyment of someone else being all Midnight Run or Blues Brothers is well, perfectly fine, right?
There is just the right balance between the loyalty of family - that unconditional love none of us should but often do take for granted - and doing what's *right*. The world Amanda walked away from hasn't really changed and neither has Amanda, not at her core. For all her big talk and bone breaking abilities, she still believes she can Fix Things for those she loves, whatever it takes. Fortunately for the Menusco's, there's enough of the Old Amanda to use and she's willing to allow that, if she gets what she wants. It's a slippery slope, and as I said, it troubled me even before I started reading and didn't really fade, not even at the end. I imagine Amanda at 60 will still be trying to fix everyone and everything in her world ... only then they'll call her an interfering old bat and no one will care that she's still *hot*. I'd probably like to know her then.
In other words, yes, Amanda is still the uber strong woman. So much so that us lesser women might find her obnoxiously overbearing. That is, except for the fact she's safely in a book, not living next door or two cubicles away getting all the glory while we work just as hard though it still hasn't occurred to us to kick the arse of the boss's son as a legitimate route to a raise. Her reflections on motherhood, being a wife and daughter-in-law are all spot-on but they seem less real once she's shoving her way back in to The Business. Hunter's unwavering support is stunning (and pretty miraculous considering) as he takes a walk on her side of the street where no one is really what they appear to be, except his wife and at times, she forgets just how well he knows her. I liked those parts best - his pinches of Remember Me? Us? Why we are here? Good ... just checking in, now, let's have sex, yes I mean now, what's wrong with now?
BTW, there are NO graphic sex scenes in this books. The implication is there, the innuendo is played up, the locations are numerous, and the afterglow endearing; however it's mostly fade to black so for those that hate stories slowed by paragraphs of sex or those desperate for the same - you've been warned.
The plot was confusing. It was supposed to be, why else would The Family bring in an outsider to track down the shooter. The deductive reasoning of Sherlock Holmes would've been worthless here. He'd have needed too large a string map and gotten tangled up designing his social network connections thereby missing the next clue. No, it was better to strap in and catch the clues on the fly. Reaction to lies, betrayals, assassinations and near misses was the method of the day. In this case it worked out in the end. I doubt it would work on actual streets, but it sure was interesting! I was surprised by who was behind it all though it made perfect sense at the reveal. I want to say more but it would be a spoiler and I don't do that.
ARG how hard it is to *not* do that -- I just deleted three paragraphs of ah ha and Oh Yeah and well, darn. If anyone wants to discuss this later: e-mail me, we can wallow in it all! Which is to say, this is a book and characters you invest in, feel something about and remember even when the story is done. A keeper for my e-reader and definitely an author worth watching for even groovier things from (no pressure intended Ms. Kramin).
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Read more of my reviews at Page Traveler E-Book Reviews
November 27, 2022
I enjoyed continuing reading about Amanda and Hunter. This book was a continuation of Amanda and Hunter's encounters with the mob. It is amazing the trouble that finds someone in witness protection. But loved reading about the love of two people to save their family. You will not be disappointed with this book. You also want to read book one!
January 28, 2013
View original review HERE!
I received the novel Amanda’s Return for an honest review.
When Amanda and her husband Hunt went into protective services with their daughter and Hunt’s parents after the events with Mob and the betrayal from her close friend inside the FBI the happy couple was more than ready to settle down for a happy life in Florida raising their daughter. When Eddie and his crew come barging into their house threatening her family Amanda has no choice but to go with and try to solve the case of her close friend Angelo who has gone missing. When immediately after returning to New York with Hunt and Mob in tow Amanda finds Angelo and is more than ready to go home to her daughter. Too bad that wasn’t all Eddie wanted from her Amanda and Hunt are forced to figure out who’s behind the all the killings surrounding the Mob. When Amanda goes back undercover to track what’s been going on Hunt and Amanda begin to slowly piece together what’s been going one. Who’s behind all the killings is a giant shock to everyone involved and with Amanda having a baby on the way her and Hunt need to decide after they make it out of everything alive if Amanda can finally walk away from the Mob and the FBI.
Amanda’s Return was a giant shock for me. I enjoyed Hunter’s Find and didn’t think the lives of Amanda and Hunt could become any more complex. I was so wrong. Amanda and Hunt while trying to have a baby are also out on the streets of New York kicking butts and doing some amazing detective work. An Ex-Mob wife, Ex-FBI agent and her police officer husband make quite the couple while managing to love each other despite each-others flaws throughout the story and everything that happened made their relationship stronger than ever. I have to say I was a little skeptical to see how June Kramin would wrap up this amazingly complex sequel but I needn’t worry because the ending couldn’t have been more perfect.
While the story seemed to take a little while to read nothing in the story was unnecessary and the characters were amazing and while not really relatable still remained likeable for their strength and love for one another. Amanda’s Return was complex and the writing was while at times a bit wordy with description enjoyable.
All in all, I really enjoyed Amanda’s Return while not as much as Hunter’s Find the characters and writing made the overall story extremely enjoyable and a quick enough read. I would really suggest the Hunter’s Find books to readers who enjoy crime solving, great action, and lots of mystery in their novels.
I received the novel Amanda’s Return for an honest review.
When Amanda and her husband Hunt went into protective services with their daughter and Hunt’s parents after the events with Mob and the betrayal from her close friend inside the FBI the happy couple was more than ready to settle down for a happy life in Florida raising their daughter. When Eddie and his crew come barging into their house threatening her family Amanda has no choice but to go with and try to solve the case of her close friend Angelo who has gone missing. When immediately after returning to New York with Hunt and Mob in tow Amanda finds Angelo and is more than ready to go home to her daughter. Too bad that wasn’t all Eddie wanted from her Amanda and Hunt are forced to figure out who’s behind the all the killings surrounding the Mob. When Amanda goes back undercover to track what’s been going on Hunt and Amanda begin to slowly piece together what’s been going one. Who’s behind all the killings is a giant shock to everyone involved and with Amanda having a baby on the way her and Hunt need to decide after they make it out of everything alive if Amanda can finally walk away from the Mob and the FBI.
Amanda’s Return was a giant shock for me. I enjoyed Hunter’s Find and didn’t think the lives of Amanda and Hunt could become any more complex. I was so wrong. Amanda and Hunt while trying to have a baby are also out on the streets of New York kicking butts and doing some amazing detective work. An Ex-Mob wife, Ex-FBI agent and her police officer husband make quite the couple while managing to love each other despite each-others flaws throughout the story and everything that happened made their relationship stronger than ever. I have to say I was a little skeptical to see how June Kramin would wrap up this amazingly complex sequel but I needn’t worry because the ending couldn’t have been more perfect.
While the story seemed to take a little while to read nothing in the story was unnecessary and the characters were amazing and while not really relatable still remained likeable for their strength and love for one another. Amanda’s Return was complex and the writing was while at times a bit wordy with description enjoyable.
All in all, I really enjoyed Amanda’s Return while not as much as Hunter’s Find the characters and writing made the overall story extremely enjoyable and a quick enough read. I would really suggest the Hunter’s Find books to readers who enjoy crime solving, great action, and lots of mystery in their novels.
December 20, 2013
Mob Thriller with an intriguing mystery that kept me flying through the pages until the very end. Mandy and Hunt are deep in it again in this sequel to Hunter’s Find (you’re sure to enjoy this one even more if you’ve read it first, though it’s not strictly necessary). I don’t care to write summaries, but I will tell you old friends and foes are back, and little is as it seems. Mandy kicks ass and takes names with Hunt at her side. The dialog is natural and the character development rich, as I’ve come to expect from Ms. Kramin—along with solid storytelling. Also, settings are sketched with enough detail to picture everything, but not so much as to be bogged down in the them.
August 8, 2012
It was one of those stories that I started out trying to just read a chapter or two a night before bed. Soon I found I was wanting to know what happened next so I was reading more during the day and then I had to stay up late to finish it. It was not predicable like so many stories I read. I loved it.
July 3, 2014
I loved this story. It pulled me in and got me re-involved with the characters from the 1st book. It wasn't predictable like so many stories that I read. That was refreshing for me.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews