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!ย And keep reading to find out about her new book, You Again (which looks quite intriguing).
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1.ย 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 endingโmaybe because buckets of tears were involved, LOL! One that comes immediately to mind Is Jude Devereauxโs 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. Donโt 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.ย What is your favorite romantic story (movie/book. fact/fiction)?ย
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 canโt tell you how many times I reread that one. But if I were to pick it up today, for the first time ever, I donโt know if it would leave the same impact for me.
So Iโll move on to favorite romantic movie and to do this Iโm thinking of my movie collection and which one Iโd pull out as the most romanticโฆDarn. Iโd 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 whoโs in love with the prom queen. But that kissโฆBest. First. Kiss. Ever. My other two favorites would be (clichรฉ, 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.ย 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 Iโll use my imagination here. ๐
4.ย Which of your characters/books was the most fun to write?
Molly, Allieโs 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.ย If you weren’t aย writer, what would you be doing instead?ย
Well, I am actually an attorney so if the writing gig doesnโt work out, I guess Iโll just be practicing lawโฆforever. Actually, that thought gives me a flashback to The Sandlot movie where the kid says, โForeverโฆforeverโฆforever.โ So, as you can imagine, Iโll always write because Iโll need to create other worlds that donโt 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 crushโฆ
Back in high school, Allie McBride thought the sun set around Sam Frattoโs smiles, even if they were only friends. Now sheโs 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 heartsโฆ
The cute kid from high school is all grown upโฆ
A family crisis brings true-crime writer Sam Fratto back to town after more than a decadeโs absence. Teaching at his alma mater seems like a good way to pass the timeโespecially 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, itโs up to him to keep her safeโฆ
A killer determined to keep the past buried at any priceโฆ
As if dealing with the return of one ghost from her past wasnโt 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 togetherโฆor die togetherโฆ
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 itโs 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 lovesโwriting stories.
Currently, when sheโs not working the day job as in-house counsel, she spends her time with the family and squeezing in writing timeโanything to avoid the housekeeping. Just kidding, honey! ๐
She writes with romance and humor at the heart of every storyโand 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
Old acquaintances, New Lovers, and Murderโฆ
