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Undercover FBI #5

Special Agent Booker

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Suspense lights up in every page of this fast-paced blockbuster of thrills!

When Sloan Booker’s father dies tragically, he has no other option but to give up his job as an FBI agent and take over his family’s vehicle restoration business in Oahu, Hawaii. Giving up his badge is difficult but having Homeland Security and his old boss request the use of his house in a stakeout, spying on his Muslim neighbors who they suspect are terrorists, is just too damn much for a man already frazzled. It makes no difference that they’ve offered him a partner to be in charge of the surveillance… until he meets the gorgeous divorcee.

Special Agent Alia Hawkins might look more like a model than a cop but looks can be deceiving. Not only does she rescue street kids, fights their battles and transports them to safe homes, but since she lived many years in Pakistan and speaks their language, she’s a sought after agent. So far, she’s kept her personal life and job separate. But when Alia’s slimy ex-husband threatens to steal her eight-year-old son, she has no choice but to bring him along on her latest undercover assignment – living with a hotshot, sexy as hell agent as his long lost stepsister. Her life suddenly takes some drastic swerves and she wonders if things will ever slow down.


395 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 14, 2016

346 people are currently reading
204 people want to read

About the author

Mimi Barbour

166 books697 followers
Mimi is an incredibly busy NYT and USA Today award-winning, best-selling author who has nine series to her credit, as well as over 45 books and numerous multi-author box collections.

Mimi lives on the East coast of Vancouver Island with her pup, Charli, and writes her various romances with tongue in cheek and a mad glint in her eye.

She’s been known to say: “If I can steal a booklover’s attention away from their every-day grind, absorb them into a fantasy love story, and make them care about the ending, then I’ve done my job.”

**1st place prize of the 2015 - Chanticleer Reviews - Clue Awards. Special Agent Francesca
**A TOUCH OF PASSION, has just become the 2016 WINNER of The Romance Reviews Readers' Choice Awards.

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5 stars
172 (53%)
4 stars
102 (31%)
3 stars
41 (12%)
2 stars
5 (1%)
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3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews132 followers
Want to read
March 2, 2019
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/2/2019)! 🎁

Blurb:
When Sloan Booker’s father dies tragically, he has no other option but to give up his job as an FBI agent and take over his family’s vehicle restoration business in Oahu, Hawaii. Giving up his badge is difficult but having Homeland Security and his old boss request the use of his house in a stakeout, spying on his Muslim neighbors who they suspect are terrorists, is just too damn much for a man already frazzled. It makes no difference that they’ve offered him a partner to be in charge of the surveillance… until he meets the gorgeous divorcee.

Special Agent Alia Hawkins might look more like a model than a cop but looks can be deceiving. Not only does she rescue street kids, fights their battles and transports them to safe homes, but since she lived many years in Pakistan and speaks their language, she’s a sought after agent. So far, she’s kept her personal life and job separate. But when Alia’s slimy ex-husband threatens to steal her eight-year-old son, she has no choice but to bring him along on her latest undercover assignment – living with a hotshot, sexy as hell agent as his long lost stepsister. Her life suddenly takes some drastic swerves and she wonders if things will ever slow down.
90 reviews3 followers
December 23, 2016
Good read

I love this series by Mimi Barbour. Always a great storyline, plenty of page turning action and a sweet love included. So if any of these things interest you, try this book and be hooked.
Profile Image for Toni.
1,568 reviews64 followers
June 4, 2019
2.5 Stars

I wanted to love this book. Romantic suspense is my jam, my guilty pleasure. But there were too many things that didn’t line up in this. Too many inconsistencies.

For instance, Alia was totally against getting together with a co-worker because it was too messy. But almost after she steps in the door she is ready to bed down the dude.

The character’s motivations were all over the place. This almost felt like it wasn’t written in chronological order and when they put all the pieces/scenes together they all didn’t mesh right. Alia would go from one scene being totally put off by Sloane and they would never be together, then almost the next scene, she is drippy in love and they were made for each other.

I am all for insta-love when I know beforehand it’s on the table but that motivation didn’t seem to ring true here. This book doesn’t happen over a long stretch of time and I thought their instant love/happily ever after wasn’t quite believable.

The entire plot was based on two Muslim siblings, related to Sloan’s neighbor’s were coming into the country to visit. So the FBI sets up a surveillance based on these two kids visiting. Then in the end we learn that the covers the two kids were using, family members of the neighbors, were fake and the FBI had the brother’s family in protective custody THE ENTIRE TIME! So, why not just nab the kids at the border for trying to enter the country with fake passports? This just negates the entire surveillance scenario where Alia comes to live with Sloan. The entire plotline was a colossal waste of time.

All the inconsistencies, the jumping around in time motivations and the surprising revelations about Alia’s and Sloan’s father’s who “just coincidently” have been living with Sloan the entire time. The whole shebang was completely unbelievable.

Like I said, I wanted to love this book but it just didn’t live up to the hype.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
Profile Image for Becky Claxon.
2,205 reviews18 followers
February 16, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. Sloan is such a caring and loving man that he gives up his FBI job to keep his father’s specialized shop in business after his father dies. Of course, the main reason is because of Les and Roy who were his father’s best friends and also acted as a father to Sloan and work at the shop. He is called back to work on a special case and to work with Alia as his partner. I loved his reaction to the beautiful, model like agent. He comes across at work sometimes as a little crabby, even though everyone loves him. Sloan is not too happy at first that Alia has to bring her eight year old son to live with Sloan too while they keep their eyes on the couple across the street. There are some funny times in the house. Roy and Alia’s son are inseparable after a short time. Not only does Alia have to worry about the job she is working on, but her scumbag ex-husband has threatened to kidnap her son. You won’t believe the reason why! There are some other nice surprises in the book that made my heart happy. I strongly encourage you to read the book.
322 reviews4 followers
February 5, 2020
Mimi Barbour, ‘Special Agent Booker’,
Undercover FBI Series, book 5.

Rating: 3,5 stars (of 5).

In general: FBI agents with complicated families find love.

Main characters:
- Alia Hawkins.
FBI Special Agent. After her parents died she lived with her muslim aunt and uncle in Pakistan. Later she studied Criminology and joined the FBI in San Diego.
She was shortly married, got a child and divorced her lying workaholic, often drunken husband. He was a wealthy semi criminal, remarried with a young wife and threatened Alia to claim his rights on his son (although never interested in him before) when she refused to give her eggs for the IVF procedure to give him a child with his infertile, new wife.
With Ruby, a nanny (and best friend) from the Philippines, she raised her son, Kean, as a single mom, living in Hawaii, the island to which she fled after the threats of her influential ex-husband.
- Sloan Booker.
Ex FBI Agent. He loved his FBI work and had a hero reputation, but he left the agency to help and renovate the old timer garage of his dad, who recently was killed in a car accident. Now he worked as owner/manager in this garage in honor of his late father and to keep jobs for the two old, loyal co-workers of his dad.

Alia and Sloan meet when the FBI wants to use Sloan’s house for the surveillance of his muslim neighbours, who could have connections with terrorists.
At first their relationship is difficult. Alia’s priority is her son, then her job and after her marriage she distrusts men. And especially womanizers like Sloan.
The author, Mimi Barbour, describes how Alia’s opinion of Sloan step by step changes when they work together. The good looking man appears to be loving for children, caring for family and friends, serious in his work. While Sloan fell for the beautiful, sassy Alia when he saw her for the first time.
In addition Mimi Barbour creates a not very original, but sometimes exciting story about terrorism, kidnapping, help for abused street children and the life in a small Hawaiian community.
So - for me - an interesting book to read.

R. Huiszoon.
Profile Image for Despina.
535 reviews3 followers
March 12, 2019
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for a honest review.

Special Agent Booker by Mimi Barbour was actually an interesting story filled with a balance of suspense and romance. In this story Alia is a FBI agent who has just moved to Hawaii because of some problems with her ex-husband, and her new assignment is to move into ex-FBI, Sloan's house to monitor whether or not his neighbors are terrorists. Having said that this story is so much more than that story line, but I don't want to spoil it. In some ways I love all the other plots in the story but in some ways there was too much going on in the story. I think that this writer could benefit from narrowing down her focus a little bit. I also felt like this was a script for a TV show instead of a book I was reading in such that i felt like I was being told things as opposed to feeling things. Along with the various plot lines, there are also some great character's here and it was fun to watch the story unfold. I am looking forward to more stories from Mimi Barbour



Profile Image for Myra Gabor.
227 reviews3 followers
April 29, 2018
I was sent this book by the author and voluntarily chose to review it.
Alia Hawkins is an FBI agent who saves kids in trouble in her spare time. Sloan Booker is a former FBI agent who now runs an auto repair shop, or vehicle restoration, as the author prefers. Sex doesn't enter the story until Chapter 3. Of course, both of them are drop dead gorgeous, both built, smart, capable and caring people. It was a non-stop list of positive attributes. By Chapter 5, I was bored with both of them.
They both carry baggage. Alia's son's father is now rich & powerful and he wants her to bear a child for him and his new wife. Sloan doesn't know who his biological father is. Their assignment is to prove that a family of Moslems are fine, upstanding citizens of the USA.
It's well written. Just totally unbelievable. And with all the ends so neatly tied up, it made me cringe.
2,539 reviews21 followers
February 8, 2020
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of "SPECIAL AGENT BOOKER" This was a very interesting, entertaining, intriguing, supense drama, passion and some twists that keep you reading to the end.
Special Agent Booker and Special Agent Alia Hawkins are on a surveillance mission to watch his Muslim neighbours they think they could be terrorists the FBI want to use Sloan house.
Alia's priority is her son Kean from a failed marriage, then her job she very distrustful of men she was an orphan raise by two very uncaring people so she keeps her distance at first meet sge thinks Bpoker is a womanizer.
Sloan and Alia spending more time together become much closer their chemistry is steamy hot this was a story you don't want to miss unique storyline with very interesting characters I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Candy Laine.
Author 7 books8 followers
June 19, 2017
Sloan and Alia's story reads a bit like a Bollywood movie. There's action and intrigue. There's a criminal element to be vary of. A whole bunch of colorful characters, each with their own agenda and quirks. The story flows well from the main plot, and there is of course a bunch of other stuff that keeps happening unexpectedly to keep the reader fully engaged. I also love how current fears about terrorists is dealt with. Not everyone is a terrorist is brought out beautifully in the way Sloan deals with his neighbours.

Enjoyed this latest installation of the series. A great book in the Undercover FBI series by Mimi Barbour. Each book has a complete story and can be read as a stand alone. The stories are not connected.
3,124 reviews
February 15, 2021
Great

Sloan was a FBI agent but when his dad was killed in a car accident, he hung up his badge and went to run the vehicle restoration business his dad had. Alia is model beautiful and a kick butt FBI agent, who also helps kids on the street. She has an eight year old son and his father has threatened to take him from her. So they move to Hawaii and now Alia has a new assignment, pretend to be Sloan’s stepsister and move in with him. Sloan’s neighbors are foreigners and the government wants them watched. They has been some chatter about terrorists planning something big.

First time reading this author and I loved it. Secrets. Action. Steamy sexual tension. A little boy and a cat. There are some hilarious situations.
607 reviews6 followers
February 9, 2021
Sloan Booker is a special agent of the FBI who comes out of retirement for a special assignment. Little did he know how this assignment would totally change his life. Life-long relationships would help him see his true future, and the woman who came into his life to join him on this assignment turns out to have a special relationship, too. The multiple stories in this book are expertly told. All the characters are 100% believable. The plot twists provide non-stop action and interest. I could hardly put this down. And the best part is the ending, very emotional and rewarding! Definitely 5 stars!
1,922 reviews5 followers
February 12, 2020
Special Agent Booker

This was a great book on love,war,and intrigue. The fact that special FBI agents ended up under cover and spying on two people who were sent to their supposed Aunts for a 2 week visit only to find out they were not who they seemed. The agents had tracked them and followed them until they discovered the truth. This is a book well worth reading if you like reading mystery with lots of intrigue in it. This was a free book that I read today and now This is my review in my words and mine alone. Norma Gorrill
305 reviews
January 28, 2017
Undercover work can be...interesting

Sloan is running the auto shop after his father was killed, leaving his job as a federal agent. Alia is an FBI agent. Together they go undercover to watch the neighbor's visitors believed to be in Hawaii as terrorists. A funny, intense, and heartbreaking story of families coming together facing danger. This is an author I will be following.. I received this free and am writing an honest review.
Profile Image for Pansy.
2,198 reviews24 followers
July 9, 2019
Fun and entertaining

Often, I find that a series will become very cookie cutter - much the same story with different characters and a few tweaks. However, this author has a talent for writing an entirely different premise with each story. It makes binge reading a series, not only easier, but fun and entertaining. Not to mention, the chances of me not loosing interest and actuality finishing the series is greater.

I have enjoyed this entire series, including this that I had some doubts about. Stories involving kids in general, kids in trouble specifically, are not on my listof things I enjoy. This story was handled with tact and understanding. Well done
Profile Image for Dale Lussier.
357 reviews4 followers
February 12, 2021
Sometimes life has a few twists in the road we don't see coming.

Sloan Booker had given up being an FUN special agent when his dad died to run his car restoration business. He is asked to come back temporarily to work on a case involving one of his neighbors. He is partnered with Ali an agent who knows the language. Only she has a son she needs to keep close be her ex-husband is threatening to take him.
194 reviews
February 8, 2018
Another great read in the Undercover FBI series

A very enjoyable story. Loved reading about Sloan Booker and his temporary partner, Alia. Their chemistry is unmatched, and the case they are working on made for a fun read that was hard to put down. Since each book in this series is a standalone, you can also read them in any order without being lost at all.
Profile Image for Tonya Peterson.
1,598 reviews3 followers
August 13, 2019
No more secrets and finding the truth

Alia is new to the area and was assigned on a special case with retired agent booker. Booker was so annoyed that he would have to spy on his neighbors and have alia there as a step sister. But one thing lead to another and love softened them both through unusual things.
Profile Image for Celia Lewis.
203 reviews5 followers
February 23, 2020
Hawai'i & the FBI - plus a kid & a kitten!

Tangled relationships, unknown parentage, yet the FBI manages to thwart a possible jihadist group, and stop an incipient gang war! Throw in a love affair - or three - and all's well in the end. Even the kitty ends up with the right person. Charming characters make this an excellent read! Definitely recommended!
Profile Image for Rosemary Hughes.
4,192 reviews23 followers
November 21, 2020
A disgruntled ex FBI Agent conned into helping out on a mission gets more than he anticipated when he agreed to let a female operative use his house for surveillance purposes.
A lot of coincidental pieces of life's puzzle fall into place during this tale. Life is sometimes like that though!

Good read, as with all this series so far.
Profile Image for  BookwormMomma7.
958 reviews
February 12, 2021
Superb!

I absolutely love this book, he has a little bit of everything. You have suspense, intrigue, romance and all kinds shenanigans going on. Sloan and Alia’s story comes with a hefty amount of plots all intertwined to make a great story, the characters are awesome too. Fantastic read.
400 reviews3 followers
September 21, 2021
Twisty, Yet Excellent

Who's who's Mom or Dad? Everything is revealed at the end of this romance/action thriller. Two amazing FBI agents solve multiple crimes together while facing life threatening situations. How their mutual respect blooms into hot, passionate sex and then a deep abiding love is a great tale. Plus all the crazy relationship surprises.
Profile Image for Catarina Águas.
2,355 reviews207 followers
April 28, 2022
Very good book. I think the love part happened a little too fast but still, didn't mind it at all. Alia was bad*ss, trying to be there for her son but not knowing how and gaining an instast family that really loved her. Sloan was a good man that needed a little something in his life and that was her and her son
Profile Image for Denise Gould.
116 reviews
April 12, 2018
Brilliant

Loved the story and style of writing by Mimi Barbour. I enjoyed the book from start to finish it kept me interested all the way through. I will now have to read the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Michelle Strommen.
1,107 reviews18 followers
July 25, 2018
This book was very enjoyable. Very light. It had some mystery but most important were the characters. I would love to get more involved in these characters lives. I instantly took a liking to them. Would’ve liked a more detailed ending. Hope there is more in the series eventually.
2,278 reviews5 followers
March 9, 2019
A stand alone story in a series.

I really want enjoyed this exciting story. Alia and Sloan are wonderful characters. The plot is complex, with more than one criminal plotline. There are surprises and twists. The chemistry between Alia and Sloan is good.
65 reviews1 follower
July 15, 2019
Excellent

I enjoyed reading this book in the series.Especially the interaction between the characters.while it had some suspense it also had little humor. But I didn't like how the uncle was thrown in the mixed and killed off.
Profile Image for Cynthia.
3,201 reviews101 followers
July 18, 2019
This was a good

Sloan was a one time a FBI agent but when his dad died he needed to help run the family garage. Alia was raising her son with help of her friend Ruby who she helped save in San Diego. Now in Hawaii they need to stop a terrorist ring.
79 reviews
September 5, 2020
Catchy story with lots of twists

Barbour is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors. Every book I have read has been easy to get into with a new story that keeps me involved and enjoying the intrigue.
498 reviews4 followers
February 16, 2021
Great story

This story has a lot of action,suspense,danger,and a little romance thrown in keeps you turning the pages until the very last page looking forward for more books from this author
Profile Image for Shannon Binegar-Foster.
2,796 reviews19 followers
September 20, 2023
Incredible

Where do I start this was so amazing. Drew me in right from the start. Loved the twist near the end although I had a pretty good feeling it was going to turn out that way. Looking forward to the new book. I just can't get enough of F.B.I. books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews

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