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Maverick Key

Hearts on the Line

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Book 1 of The Maverick Key Series
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Pub Date 29 Aug 2025 | Archive Date 15 Dec 2025

Description

"The sea has a way of pulling us in, Mads."

Dive into this layered, well-paced romantic mystery debut set on a lush South Florida barrier island and deep into the unmapped tunnels of the underwater cave system miles off its shore. Perfect for readers who crave emotional depth with their suspense.

After her beloved brother Nathan dies in a tragic cave diving accident, Maddie leaves everything behind to start fresh in Maverick Key, hoping that the move to the cottage he left behind will help her heal from her grief. She feels immediately closer to Nathan in the small seaside town, but can’t shake the nagging suspicion that his death might not have been an accident—and that his cryptic notes may hint at something more. And then there's the brooding and widowed diver, Scott, who she can't get off her mind.

As fortune hunters and internet celebrity adventurer Wes Harrington descend on Maverick Key to explore Carter's Drop—the underwater cavern that claimed Nathan's life—Maddie is forced to confront her feelings for Scott and her unanswered questions about Nathan’s disappearance.

Wes might be a world-class charmer, but her slow-burning romance with Scott captures Maddie's heart—even if his protective nature might keep her from diving into the truth.

As a threatening storm descends on the Key, Nathan’s secrets are roiled like the angry seas, putting Maddie’s life and heart in danger as the past shows up at her front door.

Author’s Note: A beautiful, grief-stricken veterinarian is stripped of her usual sunshiny demeanor in the wake of her brother's death. When she encounters the brooding, widowed, former military diver who knew her brother well, she falls hard—and he falls harder. This first novel in the Maverick Key series blends steamy small-town romance with romantic suspense and diving adventure in an unforgettable seaside setting.

"The sea has a way of pulling us in, Mads."

Dive into this layered, well-paced romantic mystery debut set on a lush South Florida barrier island and deep into the unmapped tunnels of the underwater...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781967133000
PRICE US$4.99 (USD)
PAGES 287

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Average rating from 11 members


Featured Reviews

This romantic suspense has a fantastic premise: grief, healing, underwater danger and a twist that absolutely shocked me. I enjoyed the small-town vibe and mystery, though some character choices felt a bit rushed or underdeveloped (particularly Maddie’s secrecy and the romantic resolution). I also wish we saw more of her vet career & more of Wes too <3. The final chapter flipped everything in the best way and I really,really hope book two is already on its way!

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Maverick Key Hearts on the Line by Margot Keene was such a great read! I was not ready to get emotionally wrecked over a small town diving mystery, but here we are. This book is the perfect mix of romantic suspense and grief. Maddie is a heartbroken vet trying to start over, but things get complicated when she finds clues her brother left behind after his passing. I appreciated how the author portrayed Maddie’s grief. It felt real, messy, and never brushed aside! I loved the mix of suspense, the gorgeous seaside setting, and of course the romance. I can’t wait to see what happens next in Maverick Key!

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Thank you NetGalley and Margot Keene for a copy of *Maverick Key* in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great read! The island setting pulled me in from the beginning and the suspense made it really hard to put this down.

Keene also did an amazing job with the description of the dives and underwater caves. It was so intriguing!

Maggie and Scott's love story is definitely a big part of this story and while I enjoyed it, the mystery snd suspense definitely was the best part of this book.

Also, Elliot?! I'm itching to read the next book to find out his story!

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I absolutely loved this book… it’s everything I needed in a summer romance! Both main characters are dealing with grief and they are drawn to each other while helping each other heal. The ocean/island setting is perfect and the diving aspect brings a different element than the usual summer reads I’ve been jamming out for the past month. There’s cave diving, mysteries to be solved and a ton of key characters I loved getting to know. WOW, can’t wait for the next one after that ending!!!

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