Identical twins but different men – she loves both!
In this electrifying romantic suspense set in the steamy streets of New Orleans, Lieutenant Commander Nik Baudin, accidently meets up with an identical twin he never knew existed. When his brother Max goes missing, Nik assumes his identity as Special Agent Maximilian. This gives him access to FBI files making it easier to arrest the gangsters … gangsters who attacked his brother and to stop their trafficking of underage girls. Being that Nik has specialized commando training, he’s the perfect man for the job – that’s if his PTSD doesn’t kick in and leave him cowering in a corner.
Special Agent Maya Barnes can’t believe it when she spots her partner, Max Foster, wandering along the French market without a care in the world. Since he’d been beaten and had gone missing weeks earlier, they all believed him dead. There’s only one problem… though this man might look exactly like the missing agent, she knows differently. In all the years they’ve worked together, she’s never wanted to have mind-blowing sex with her partner before.
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Imagine finding out you had an identical twin you knew nothing about.
A chance meeting brings Nik and Max together just in time for Max to disappear under suspicious circumstances. When Nik learns Max has been savagely beaten by the mobsters he’s trying to build a case against, the brothers come up with a plan to have Nik go undercover– as Max!
Maya Barnes can’t believe when the partner she’s been searching for suddenly shows up as though nothing has happened. Except Max isn’t acting like himself. It doesn’t take her long to guess something is going on. The chemistry between Nik and Maya is off the charts!
The author covers the sensitive subject of human trafficking with realism and empathy. This story is fast-paced with some fun twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I loved the premise of two brothers finding each other after years apart.
I give Special Agent Maximilian 5 lovely kisses- An entertaining read!
Love Mimi’s books – can’t go wrong here. A very entertaining read!
4.5 stars
Nik was in the military but after an accident he’s on leave. He stops into a coffee shop and sees a man who is identical to him. Max, the twin, is a FBI agent. When Max is beating within an inch of his life, Nik takes his place to find out where some trafficked girls are being held. Maya, is Max’s partner and knows right off Nik is not Max. They work together to find the trafficking ring and and stop them from selling them off.
Not a big review but don’t want to reveal any spoilers. Plenty of action. It is one roller coaster of a ride. Sometimes it confused me when the h/h dialogue would run together just a little bit. There is a slight cliffhanger so beware.
Navy Seal Lieutenant Commander Nik Baudin is in New Orleans for a little medical R&R when he comes face-to-face with the twin brother he never knew he had and the mother he’d been told had died when he was just a toddler. His new-found brother, Max, is equally surprised as his mother, believing her youngest son had been killed by her abusive ex-husband, had kept that heartache to herself for all these years.
Before the two brothers can really get to know each other, Max, who is an FBI Special Agent, goes to meet with his confidential informer and gets the goods on a sex trafficking ring when he is attacked by the gang and left for dead on a rural back-country road. Before completely losing consciousness, he is able to phone Nik who finds him and takes him to a safe hiding place to heal and recuperate. Because the timing on this case is critical, Nik takes Max’s place to try and get back the vital incriminating evidence that was stolen. But there is a big complication in the way of Nik being able to successfully pull off his masquerade: Max has a partner, and she’s a by-the-book, no-nonsense woman that is not going to be easy to fool.
This is the 3rd in Mimi Barbour’s “Undercover FBI” series and the second that I’ve read. Once again, the author has developed a compelling story with mystery and romance to boot. Main characters, Nik Baudin and Special Agent Maya Barnes are both functioning adults, one carrying the burden of an unhappy and abusive childhood, the other saddled with memories of an unstable mother and early life, each suffering from the deep-seated, hidden damage. In addition to the two flawed leads, there are a variety of other interesting characters supporting the story: the twins’ mother, the surprising and entertaining Julian Freed, and a whole host of dastardly bad guys to overcome. As with the previous book in the series that I read, the city setting proves to bring another enjoyable aspect to the story. The plot is fast-paced with little downtime for the two main characters to talk themselves out of their attraction for one another. (No dithering about or on-again/off-again relationship.)
I recommend this book to readers that like romantic suspense or those that like mysteries with a sexy romantic storyline.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
Lots of action, a romance, and fun
The story begins with Nik pretending to be his twin brother Max, who he hasn’t seen for years. On leave for PTSD he joins forces with Maya without telling her that he isn’t Max. However, not easily fooled, Maya quickly figures out that he isn’t Max. Together they try to bust the trafficking ring that’s bringing in young girls from Asia to be prostitutes.
Lots of action and danger along with a completely unexpected conclusion.
This third book in the Undercover FBI series by Mimi Barbour was another entertaining thrill ride of action, suspense, and of course hot romance combined with a lot of sex. This story was all about the importance of family as the members struggle with their own moments of regret and sorrow on their way to becoming a whole family unit again as old heart walls were weakened and torn down to allow hope and love in once again. It was also a story about the courage and commitment to a single cause which was to halt the trafficking of underage girls into the US from other countries. Did I mention the romance, and the love and the sex, oh yeah, there will always be sex in Ms. Barbour’s books, to be sure. I am so looking forward to the next book in this super series. This is a voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Hidden Gems Books.
Special Agent Maximilian is the third book in the Undercover FBI Series, but can be read completely as a stand alone. Maya is working on busting up a prostitution ring, but when her missing partner shows up, she notices immediately that he’s not who he seems. Nik found a long lost brother just in time to impersonate him to help with the case, but will Maya and Nik be able to save the missing girls in time, or will they draw the attention and danger before they can figure out their own emotions and future?
I have really enjoyed each of these books in this series, but Nik and Maya’s adventure was a lot of fun to read! I love that Nik was trying to be his twin brother Max! It added a fun element for the story, or trying to see what Max would do, how he would dress and act and respond to things, and then of course, fighting his feelings towards Maya! Maya is brave and has a big heart towards those she’s trying to save, and I loved that she wasn’t afraid to put herself in danger to help those she loves. I loved their connection and tension and I thought it was amusing how at first, they kept getting interrupted! Juli was an interesting character, too! I was so curious about who he was, what his connection to everything was, and who his mysterious boss was (I was honestly surprised as to who!), and all in all, I just really enjoyed reading this book! It was fun and engaging!
This was well written, has amazing storyline and characters that kept me on the edge of my seat. You get danger, secrets, mystery, suspense, action, surprises and twists. Nik is suffering from PTSD and had to leave is Navy Seals due to his condition. He is a lieutenant commander has special forces and black ops training. He goes to New Orleans and finds out he is a twin and his mother is alive. Maya is a special agent with the FBI and her partner Max turns up missing. This suspenseful read was a great addition to the Undercover FBI series. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Mimi Barbour, ‘Special Agent Maximilian’.
Undercover FBI Book #3.
Rating: 4 stars (of 5).
In general: Fast moving romantic suspense story.
Main characters:
– Special FBI Agent Maya Barnes.
Working and living in New Orleans. Independent woman standing firm in a man’s world.
– Special Agent Max(imilian) Baudin Foster.
Maya’s partner. Missing during a FBI investigation of gangsters involved in under aged girls trafficking. Charming and good looking womanizer. Maya hates that behavior but admires his skill as an agent.
– Lieutenant Commander Nik Baudin.
Ex Navy SEAL (Iraq), suffering from PTSD. For a long time it was unknown to him that he had a brother. Very short before Max’ disappearance he learned that Max was his twin brother. Nik assumed his brother’s name so he can have the power of the FBI helping him in finding back his missing twin.
The first meeting between Maya and Nik isn’t a success. Maya thinks he’s her missing partner Max who disappeared without telling her. And the moment she sees him again after some weeks, acting as if nothing special happened, she’s very angry and knocks him down. But when Nik pretends he suffered from amnesia, Maya softens. After some time Nik confesses to her that he’s Max twin and she promises to help him acting as Special Agent Max. Together they investigate the girls trafficking case that Max worked on.
Then the author, Mimi Barbour, creates a fast moving story with unexpected twists and turns, interesting additional characters and exciting action scenes. In between she describes how Maya and Nik gradually fall in love. For me a nice, easy to read page turner.
R.Huiszoon.
Nik steps in to take the place of his twin brother Max whom he has just met. Maya knows right away that he is not Max but decides to go ahead with the ruse. This is a funny story with a great cast of characters. There is action and adventure as Nik and Maya seek to solve the crime of the missing girls and he “whereabouts” of Max. There is also the brewing romance between Nik and Maya that is heating up the pages and steaming up the sheets.
Nat and Max meet and find out they’re twins, Max gets beat up and left for dead. He calls Nik to asks him to take his place in the FBI. He agrees and takes his place and meets Max’s partner Maya. The deeper they get in the case the more it becomes personal. I really enjoyed this book.
With unexpected and even weird occurances, this book is great. You don’t know which way its going to go. Or even who knows what. For the first time in a long time a suspenseful book that surprised me in its twists and turns
Such a truly entertaining read! I do love Mimi’s books. This story is full of action, entertainment, intrigue, witty banter and amazing characters! I know Nik/Max was the main character but wow….. that Agent Barnes! She was my hero! She’s feisty, opinionated, a race car driver, martial artist, passionate about her job and an all round nice gal.
There is lots of great story on the primary characters and some great secondary characters adding to the mix. Max being one of them. Nik, pretending to be his twin Maximilian, and Maya’s story is filled with action, suspense, romance, a bit of humor, and a great read. The pacing is fast and a real page turner as these two wade through the mystery of the missing girls that are targeted by human traffickers. **I was gifted “Special Agent Maximilian” by NetGalley** I also own a copy through Amazon. My review is based on my reading and given freely. 4.5 Stars!
Seeing Double
Max was a FBI agent who is trying to stop a human smuggling ring when he is injured, but before that he meets his twin brother Nik. Nik is a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy & a SEAL. Max’s partner Maya has been searching for him, not realizing at first it’s Nik, but lots of things happen.
This one just didn’t quite work for me the way I thought it was going to. I really like Nik. This is a hero that I felt could have stepped out of one of Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters books; military special operator on a joint mission with the FBI – it’s not a long stretch. Maya was a little too much for me. Too independent, too skilled at everything, too accepting. The whole side story that swoops in to save the day in the end was a step beyond plausible disbelief for me. That felt far too much like the author was playing Puppetmaster to make the story work. I was also very frustrated by the number of times Nik was called by the wrong name for the circumstances. He’s called “Max” by author around characters who only know him as Nik, he’s called “Nik” in scenes where if it comes out he isn’t Max, there’s going to be a world of trouble to answer for. Now, after three books, there are some things about the series I’m noticing. I’m not sure if it’s realistic that the head honcho is always the Assistant to the Special Agent in Charge, and it’s been a new character with every book. I’m also getting a little irritated by the author’s inability to simply call eyes “eyes” and be done with it. What’s the point behind calling them “shockers”? ‘Cause I just don’t get it. And where this book stops makes me want to commit murder. Since all the books in this series are supposed to be stand-alone stories, where am I going to find out what happens next after this brand-new twist that was introduced in the final paragraphs?
I really liked the book dedication; it was sweet and added a nice touch to intro the story. Loved Maya. Loved Nik.
Maya was such an interesting person and the skills that she learned from her step-daddies was so much fun. Those skills showed up in some interesting times and ways. As you can tell, this story was action packed and came through as promised. Action packed with a romance developing as well as a family becoming reacquainted as well. I’m really trying not to say too much because I don’t want to spoil it for the readers to come.
What a life both Max and Nik had lived through in their earlier days. And Nellie, the mother? She had suffered so much too. She had quite the unusual reaction to extreme stress and shocks.
Another interesting person in the book was Julian or Juli as he was often called. He just always seemed to pop up unexpectedly and had such a flamboyant personality. As I was reading, I was also busy trying to figure out how he figured into the story. I didn’t get it right in my imaginings so that was a nice twist right there. Its not the only twist in the story either.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review