Shannon here: Elle E. Kay shares how she met her husband along with a romantic excerpt of her characters’ “first” meeting. Comment or answer the question in any post dated May 2nd – 16th to enter the drawing for a digital copy of her Romantic Thriller, Project Sentinel plus 3 other titles. Deadline: May 23rd, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Elle:
In my younger years, I loved country dancing. I officially met my husband, Joe, when a group of us went to Denny’s after a dance for coffee and a late-night breakfast feast. Joe, however, claims we met earlier. His friend Patrick Henry called me “the girl who said no” because I’d supposedly turned down Patrick’s request for a dance—an event I have absolutely no memory of.
Regardless, Denny’s was where Joe first caught my eye. As we got to know each other, I honestly didn’t expect anything beyond friendship, but he was determined to worm his way into my heart, and he succeeded. We married a few months later. I was a single mother to a five-year-old at the time, and Joe stepped into the role of father without hesitation. I couldn’t have asked for a better husband or a better father for my son. The Lord truly has a way of working things out for our good. We celebrated our twenty-sixth anniversary in February, and I find myself falling more in love with him every year.
As for the hero and heroine of Project Sentinel, they met in a very different venue: The Farm, where they were training to be CIA operatives. They fell in love but ultimately broke each other’s hearts. Twenty years later, after her husband dies in an accident that also strips away most of her memories, the two are reunited. The hero discovers her life is in danger and steps in to keep her safe. Unfortunately, she has no memory of him, forcing him to tread carefully.
Excerpt from Project Sentinel by Elle E. Kay:
“As I told you back at the cemetery. You worked with us, too.” Elijah said the words gently knowing they might be hard for her to hear. “We met at The Farm.”
“Me?” She crossed her arms, doubt lacing her voice. “An intelligence officer. Doubtful.” A flicker of recognition lit her eyes. She might not remember, but he could tell it wasn’t a total shock either.
“Yes, you.” He took one of her hands in his.
Her chin raised a fraction. “Donovan told me I was a stay-at-home mom and housewife.”
“He was doing what he thought best. Why overwhelm you before your memory returned?”
“I don’t believe it. You were the one off playing spy games. I wouldn’t have run around the world lying for a living. That wasn’t me.”
“You had a desk job. Not all CIA employees work abroad.”
She blanched. “But you chose covert missions over a life with me.”
“It was never my intent to hurt you.” He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as her tears soaked his shirt. “I planned to return, but by the time I arrived back on US soil, you’d already married Thad.”
Reader Question: Can you dance? Why or why not? Two left feet or never learned?
May Book Bundle #1
Unintended Hero by Becky Van Vleet, World War II Historical Romance, winner’s choice print or digital
A Texas Bond by Shannon Taylor Vannatter, Contemporary Romance, print
Celia by Caryl McAdoo, Historical Romance, digital
Project Sentinel by Elle E. Key, Romantic Suspense, digital
About Elle: Elle E. Kay is an Angel Award–winning Christian fiction author of twenty-seven books, known for romantic suspense and thrillers that weave faith, mystery, and heartfelt romance against the backdrop of Pennsylvania’s wild places. She lives on a hobby farm in North Central Pennsylvania near Ricketts Glen State Park with her husband, three dogs, and an ever-changing crew of farm animals. A devoted follower of Christ, Elle teaches women’s Bible study, serves in her church’s youth ministry, and shares her love of Jesus through music.
Her award-winning series include the Pennsylvania Parks novels and the Endless Mountain series, and she’s a frequent contributor to multi-author projects. Her latest is Blast Radius, a military romantic suspense releasing June 2026 as part of a multi-author anthology with Two Dogs Publishing.
Elle loves chatting with readers about the real Pennsylvania places woven into her stories — Ricketts Glen, Worlds End, Hickory Run, Geisinger, and the local restaurants her characters seem to love as much as she does. Learn more & connect:
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About the book – Project Sentinel:
She forgot her past, but the lethal secrets locked in her mind are the only thing that can save the future.
For two years, Faith Flanagan has lived a quiet life in Emerald Bay, Maine, slowly healing from a tragic accident that stole her memories and her husband. Believing she is nothing more than a simple housewife, she has focused entirely on rebuilding her life. But from the shadows, guilt-ridden CIA operative Elijah Knight has been watching over her, burdened by the choices that separated them and desperate to keep her safe.
When danger closes in, Elijah steps out of the shadows to shatter Faith’s fragile reality. Her husband was murdered, and she is the assassins’ next target. Even more shocking: Faith was never a housewife. She was a covert government operative alongside Elijah and her late husband. Before her amnesia, Faith hid encrypted files proving that rogue government officials have weaponized Project Sentinel, an AI surveillance program, to eliminate their political rivals.
After a daring rescue, Elijah whisks Faith away to a remote safehouse hidden deep in the woods. As they race to decode the deadly clues she left behind, Faith’s fragmented memories begin to resurface. But just as they finally retrieve the hidden memory card, the unthinkable happens—Faith’s son is kidnapped, and his captors demand the evidence in exchange for his life.
With the clock ticking down and a traitor hunting their every move, can Elijah and Faith bridge the gap of their lost years to expose the corruption? Or will the ruthless forces behind Project Sentinel make them the next casualties?
If you love protective heroes, second-chance romance, and high-stakes amnesia thrillers packed with gripping Christian suspense, you won’t be able to put this book down.
Worried you won’t win? Interested in Elle’s other titles? Need extra books for gifts?
Get your copy/copies now!
Come back May 16th for Shannon’s Book Bargains Roundup!
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