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Murdered: A Small-Town Military Protector Romance
He’s being followed. She’s being abused.What happens next will change their lives forever.
___________
SarahClassic vacation with Royce. I accidentally say what I think out loud. He can’t handle it. Turns violent. It’s my mistake. I know better than to be honest with Royce. After ten years of this marriage, I’ve taken more than a lump or two. That’s just what marriage is, for better or for worse. I took the vow. I’m not trying to go back on my word.
But something inside me snaps.
And I grab a glass from the shelf of our cute little cabin on the ship.
I fight back for the very first time in my life.
It was a thick, heavy glass.
I didn’t mean to do it.
Royce isn’t moving.
___________
Will
My turn to captain Jacob’s new boat B&B. Between the investigation and a major SNAFU on my latest foreign military training assignment, I could use the time away.
Except I’m being followed. All the way up to East Greenwich. While I’m on the ship, too.
As if that wasn’t enough, the clientele situation is also unhinged. The lady, she’s magic. I can hardly tear my eyes off her. Her husband? A filthy, disgusting abuser. I have to physically prevent myself from snapping his neck like a twig in their first five minutes on the boat.
Then she kills him. I didn’t see that coming.
Now I’ve got to get rid of the body and figure out who’s in the woods, tracking my every move. Because they’ve seen everything.
And all I want is to protect her. Because this murderer…is the love of my life.
Hearts Murdered - A Navy SEAL in East Greenwich, Book 3 is a steamy, small-town military protector instalove short read romance.
____________________
For the reader who loves...
🔥 Found family
🔥 Band of brothers
🔥 Small-town
🔥 Rescue romance
🔥 Forced proximity
🔥 Slow burn, fast read
🔥 Descriptions of pancakes
🔥 BIRDS
___________
SarahClassic vacation with Royce. I accidentally say what I think out loud. He can’t handle it. Turns violent. It’s my mistake. I know better than to be honest with Royce. After ten years of this marriage, I’ve taken more than a lump or two. That’s just what marriage is, for better or for worse. I took the vow. I’m not trying to go back on my word.
But something inside me snaps.
And I grab a glass from the shelf of our cute little cabin on the ship.
I fight back for the very first time in my life.
It was a thick, heavy glass.
I didn’t mean to do it.
Royce isn’t moving.
___________
Will
My turn to captain Jacob’s new boat B&B. Between the investigation and a major SNAFU on my latest foreign military training assignment, I could use the time away.
Except I’m being followed. All the way up to East Greenwich. While I’m on the ship, too.
As if that wasn’t enough, the clientele situation is also unhinged. The lady, she’s magic. I can hardly tear my eyes off her. Her husband? A filthy, disgusting abuser. I have to physically prevent myself from snapping his neck like a twig in their first five minutes on the boat.
Then she kills him. I didn’t see that coming.
Now I’ve got to get rid of the body and figure out who’s in the woods, tracking my every move. Because they’ve seen everything.
And all I want is to protect her. Because this murderer…is the love of my life.
Hearts Murdered - A Navy SEAL in East Greenwich, Book 3 is a steamy, small-town military protector instalove short read romance.
____________________
For the reader who loves...
🔥 Found family
🔥 Band of brothers
🔥 Small-town
🔥 Rescue romance
🔥 Forced proximity
🔥 Slow burn, fast read
🔥 Descriptions of pancakes
🔥 BIRDS
102 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 22, 2026
About the author
Maite Maxwell
18 books2 followersMaite Maxwell fell off a ferris wheel earlier this month. But that's not going to stop her from bringing you her next heart-throbbing series, Hearts Adrift - A Navy SEAL in East Greenwich!
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Some romances begin with a meet-cute.
This one begins with a moment of survival.
Murdered by Maite Maxwell is a tense, emotional story about two damaged people colliding at the exact moment their lives break open — and choosing each other in the aftermath. It blends danger, protection, and healing into a story that feels less like a fairytale and more like a lifeline.
Sarah has spent ten years convincing herself endurance equals love. She knows how to stay quiet, how to smooth things over, how to survive her husband Royce’s temper. Until one night on what should have been a simple vacation, she reacts instead of absorbs. For the first time in her life, she defends herself.
And everything changes.
Will never expected his quiet assignment running a small boat B&B to turn into crisis management. He’s already dealing with being followed and unresolved problems from his military work when Sarah and Royce arrive. He notices immediately — the tension, the fear, the wrongness beneath the surface. He wants to intervene but can’t. Then the unthinkable happens.
Sarah fights back.
Now there’s a body, a witness in the shadows, and a woman who believes she’s become something terrible — while Will sees something else entirely: someone who finally refused to be broken.
What makes this story compelling isn’t just the suspense; it’s the emotional shift. Sarah doesn’t instantly become strong or fearless — she’s shaken, uncertain, and convinced she’s ruined her life. Will doesn’t see a criminal; he sees someone who deserved safety long before she ever met him. Their connection grows out of protection and understanding, not perfection.
The small-town setting and band-of-brothers support system soften the darker moments, giving the story warmth beneath the tension. Forced proximity pushes them together, but trust is what keeps them there.
Tropes you’ll find inside:
Protector hero
Found family support
Forced proximity after crisis
Healing after trauma
Small-town comfort
Fast-paced romantic suspense
By the end, the story isn’t about the act that changed everything — it’s about what comes after: learning the difference between guilt and freedom, and discovering love in the place you expected judgment.
⭐ Emotional, protective, and surprisingly tender — a romance about survival, second chances, and someone finally choosing to stand beside you instead of against you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This one begins with a moment of survival.
Murdered by Maite Maxwell is a tense, emotional story about two damaged people colliding at the exact moment their lives break open — and choosing each other in the aftermath. It blends danger, protection, and healing into a story that feels less like a fairytale and more like a lifeline.
Sarah has spent ten years convincing herself endurance equals love. She knows how to stay quiet, how to smooth things over, how to survive her husband Royce’s temper. Until one night on what should have been a simple vacation, she reacts instead of absorbs. For the first time in her life, she defends herself.
And everything changes.
Will never expected his quiet assignment running a small boat B&B to turn into crisis management. He’s already dealing with being followed and unresolved problems from his military work when Sarah and Royce arrive. He notices immediately — the tension, the fear, the wrongness beneath the surface. He wants to intervene but can’t. Then the unthinkable happens.
Sarah fights back.
Now there’s a body, a witness in the shadows, and a woman who believes she’s become something terrible — while Will sees something else entirely: someone who finally refused to be broken.
What makes this story compelling isn’t just the suspense; it’s the emotional shift. Sarah doesn’t instantly become strong or fearless — she’s shaken, uncertain, and convinced she’s ruined her life. Will doesn’t see a criminal; he sees someone who deserved safety long before she ever met him. Their connection grows out of protection and understanding, not perfection.
The small-town setting and band-of-brothers support system soften the darker moments, giving the story warmth beneath the tension. Forced proximity pushes them together, but trust is what keeps them there.
Tropes you’ll find inside:
Protector hero
Found family support
Forced proximity after crisis
Healing after trauma
Small-town comfort
Fast-paced romantic suspense
By the end, the story isn’t about the act that changed everything — it’s about what comes after: learning the difference between guilt and freedom, and discovering love in the place you expected judgment.
⭐ Emotional, protective, and surprisingly tender — a romance about survival, second chances, and someone finally choosing to stand beside you instead of against you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 21, 2026
When Sarah’s abusive husband Royce, tries to attack her on their houseboat anniversary trip and she defends herself, she thinks that’s it. That she’ll be going to jail.
Will is a military man taking a short break before having to testify after a classified mission went sideways. He’s been given the job as captain for Sarah and Royce’s trip. He clocks what kind of man Royce is straight away and will do anything to protect Sarah.
Loving this series, can’t wait to see what military man rescues the day next.
I received a free copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Will is a military man taking a short break before having to testify after a classified mission went sideways. He’s been given the job as captain for Sarah and Royce’s trip. He clocks what kind of man Royce is straight away and will do anything to protect Sarah.
Loving this series, can’t wait to see what military man rescues the day next.
I received a free copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
February 23, 2026
Book 3 of the Hearts Adrift: A Navy SEAL in East Greenwich series. Can be read as a standalone.
'And all I want is to protect her. Because this murderer…is the love of my life.'
The characters were very complex and compelling and complicated and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and intense and exciting and well paced. World building continues to excel and impress. Another great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
'And all I want is to protect her. Because this murderer…is the love of my life.'
The characters were very complex and compelling and complicated and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and intense and exciting and well paced. World building continues to excel and impress. Another great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 2, 2026
An interesting story. An abused woman on a river boat tour with her awful husband finally frees herself. The river boat captain a Navy SEAL noticed the way she was treated and wanted to save her. He was under investigation for incidents beyond his control. Together they find a way to make a life together.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 27, 2026
Sarah and Will were both traumatized by life when they met. His,was by a career ending military incident. Hers was surviving a brutal husband. Their story was both heart breaking and heartwarming. Received a free copy.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews