This morning I am very pleased to welcome author Ashlee Mallory as she talks about her take on romances … and we discover we feel the same way about one of Jude Devereaux’s classics!  And keep reading to find out about her new book, You Again (which looks quite intriguing).

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1.  What do you like best about writing romances?

Giving the characters the happy ending I want them to have! There were a few books I remember reading and totally hated the ending—maybe because buckets of tears were involved, LOL! One that comes immediately to mind Is Jude Devereaux’s A Knight in Shining Armor, which I think I read back in high school or early college. I was traumatized for several days after I finished that one. Don’t get me wrong, as there are more books I can list that left me with happy tear-filled endings too, and I only wish I could draw that kind of emotion someday. Am I twisted?

2.  What is your favorite romantic story (movie/book. fact/fiction)? 

Really? Could you pick a harder question, LOL? Books are really hard for me to come up with just one because it depends on not only the genre (contemporary, suspense, historical, etc.), but where I was in my own life when I read it. One of my top five stories is Ashes in the Wind from Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and I can’t tell you how many times I reread that one. But if I were to pick it up today, for the first time ever, I don’t know if it would leave the same impact for me.

So I’ll move on to favorite romantic movie and to do this I’m thinking of my movie collection and which one I’d pull out as the most romantic…Darn. I’d have to give you three because it would totally depend on my mood. I LOVE Some Kind of Wonderful, where the tomboy is in love with her best friend who’s in love with the prom queen. But that kiss…Best. First. Kiss. Ever. My other two favorites would be (cliché, I know, but true) Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth, and The Notebook (yep, even after I just said how much I hate sad tears at the end of stories).

3.  If you could be any romantic heroine, who would it be and why?

Finally, one I can answer without hesitation. Since I would know who would be at the other end of the kiss FOREVER it would have to be Elizabeth Bennett (again, the BBC version with Colin Firth). Although I have to admit their first kiss at the end of the movie was kind of weak. But I’ll use my imagination here. 😉

4.  Which of your characters/books was the most fun to write?

Molly, Allie’s eighty-two year old grandma, only because there were things she could get away with saying without the filter that kind of bind the rest of us.

5.  If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing instead? 

Well, I am actually an attorney so if the writing gig doesn’t work out, I guess I’ll just be practicing law…forever. Actually, that thought gives me a flashback to The Sandlot movie where the kid says, “Forever…forever…forever.” So, as you can imagine, I’ll always write because I’ll need to create other worlds that don’t make my head explode.

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You Again

by Ashlee Mallory

Release Date: 3/24/14

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Blurb:

Old acquaintances, New Lovers, and Murder…

A hopeless crush…

Back in high school, Allie McBride thought the sun set around Sam Fratto’s smiles, even if they were only friends. Now she’s older, wiser, hotter, and teaching at the same school they grew up in. When Sam joins the faculty, she has a chance to make good on the crush that got away. But when a dead body turns up on school grounds, they realize there might be a murderer in their midst. The heat keeps getting hotter between Allie and Sam, but more might be in danger than their hearts…

The cute kid from high school is all grown up…

A family crisis brings true-crime writer Sam Fratto back to town after more than a decade’s absence. Teaching at his alma mater seems like a good way to pass the time—especially when he sees that Allie, the geeky, sweet-mannered girl from high school, has blossomed into the saucy teacher in the classroom next door. Too bad finding a dead body transforms his return into one of his true-crime books come to life. And when it seems the killer might be after Allie next, it’s up to him to keep her safe…

A killer determined to keep the past buried at any price…

As if dealing with the return of one ghost from her past wasn’t enough, it looks like the killer might be the person they least suspected. Someone from the past. Someone with something to hide. Someone who thinks Allie and Sam are getting a little too close to the truth. If Allie and Sam are going to get out of this alive, these two friends to lovers will have to work together…or die together…

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20944708-you-again

Amazon Buy Link: http://amzn.to/1nkJ0iA

Barnes & Noble Buy Link: http://bit.ly/1ceCGYw

Entangled Book Link: http://bit.ly/1gNPFh3

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Author Info:

Ashlee lives with her husband, two kids, a dog, and cat surrounded by the majestic mountains of her hometown of Salt Lake.

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, she always wanted to know what it was like to live on the other side of the mountains. In college, she interned a semester in DC and later attended law school in Syracuse, New York, where she also ventured to Israel for a summer semester. After graduating law school with a taste of what it’s like living in the bigger world, she moved back home to Salt Lake and took the Utah Bar Exam, got married, and settled in with her hubby and two wonderful kids. After a few more years in the legal realm, she grew restless and turned her pen to one of her first loves—writing stories.

Currently, when she’s not working the day job as in-house counsel, she spends her time with the family and squeezing in writing time—anything to avoid the housekeeping. Just kidding, honey! 😉

She writes with romance and humor at the heart of every story—and a healthy dash of mystery and suspense.

Hopefully she pulls it off.

Email: Ashleemallory7@gmail.com

Website: http://www.ashleemallory.com/

Blog: http://ashleemallory.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshleeMallory

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashlee.mallory.50

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7912393.Ashlee_Mallory

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Giveaway:

Enter Ashlee’s fantastic giveaway for a chance to win

$25 Amazon, B&N or iTunes Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb554291/

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All the tour details can be found at pumpupyourbook.com