Title: Stupid Love
Author: Cindy Miles
Series: Stupid in Love #3
Genre: New Adult Romance
Release Date: September 10, 2015
Summary:Bestselling new adult author Cindy Miles is set to capture the hearts of STUPID GIRL fans again with the grand finale of the Stupid in Love series, featuring Memory and Jace.
MEMORY
Casualties.
That’s how I refer to the guys who’ve had the bad fortune to fall for me. They only see long legs that they wish were wrapped around them, a cat-like smile, and the reckless abandon to take on any wild dare. It’s all a game to me. Show me a bridge, and I’ll leap over the side. Give me a car, and I’ll race it. Give me a heart, and I’ll break it. I always win. I even showed Death who was boss a long time ago.
Or so I thought.
Now, time is running out, and I’m losing fast…and big. I met someone. Jace Beaumont. He’s smart, and good, and I dream about spending days exploring the summit of his perfect lips. But, I’m a grenade. I know I should leave him be. I can’t.
JACE
Study, class, work, repeat. That’s all I have time for. At twenty-five years old, I have a bit more mileage on me than the average college freshman. But, that’s what happens when you spend your youth drinking, partying, and bagging girls like it’s a full-time job. Now, I have goals. There’s just one kink in my plans. Her name is Memory. She’s every guy’s dream girl. She’s intoxicating. She’s trouble. I want to stay away. I can’t.
Jace’s words stuck to the inside of my skull all throughout the next day. Even after my friends all met up at my house, bound for Cooper’s Gorge for an exhilarating day of zip-lining and picnicking, the words remained. I’d want to be surrounded by my loved ones for every second of every day. Until.
Who was Jace Beaumont, anyway? Mr. Miagi? Buddha? An angel? Why was he filled with so much…profoundness? Why did he say things that struck my heart in such a way that I couldn’t stop thinking about them? About him?
And why in the absolute hell had he not kissed me yet? Last night on the porch? The air was on fire around us. I guess there was something to be said about a guy who had that much control, yeah?
I’d made my mind up to ask him. Tomorrow. About the kiss.
“Mem, you’re up!” Crisco hollered. “Get your head outta your ass, girl, and come on!”
“Quit, now,” Claire chided. She stood next to Sugar, helmet in place and looking way too big for her head, ready to zip. “She can’t help it,” she grinned. “She’s got Jace-itis!”
“Don’t hate, Peeshwank!” I yelled as I walked up to the platform. The guide was pretty damn cute, I must say. In a lanky, nerdy kind of way. He had long hair that flipped over his ears like he’d fallen straight out of the seventies. I looked at him and shook my head. “They are so jealous!”
He grinned. “Let’s get your harness on, darlin’,” he said, and proceeded to secure me in slightly intimate ways.
“I bet you say that to all the gals, yeah?” I teased.
Everyone laughed.
He eyed me. “Nice shirt.”
“Hey,” I went on as I gave my beloved T-shirt a quick glance. “Jaws was the first and greatest summer blockbuster. Of all time.”
He finished securing my harness and held his hands up in mock defense. He grinned. “Nothin’ but respect. Ready?”
I lifted my cell phone from my pocket. “Yep.”
“Ten bucks says you drop it,” the guy said.
“You’re on, skipper,” I answered, just before he laughed and gave me a push.
With friends on either side of the gorge yelling and cheering me on, I shot out on the line, legs clad in a pair of comfy holy jeans, stretched in front of me, my fave pair of worn Converses leading the way and my weight in the harness. It felt like I was flying! My stomach dropped, my lips tingled, and I yelled one of my favorite exhilarating movie quotes at the top of my lungs: “I’m the king of the world!” Then I quickly took a selfie—no idea what it looked like—and hung on for the ride.
“Woo-hoo! Yeah!” I yelled, and my lungs burned and the cold air stung my cheeks and I laughed all the way until Bentley grabbed my harness on the other side.
“You are one crazy fool,” he said, grinning and steadying me.
“Takes one to know one,” I said back, shucking out of my harness.
We watched the rest of our friends fly the gorge, and I took pics of each one just as they grew close to the platform. Claire came after me and her face was priceless. Mouth wide open, eyes even wider, screaming the most high-pitched scream I’d ever heard. I’d planned on making a giant collage for each one in our group, compiled of our zany adventures, and after four years I had quite a collection.
Bentley helped me out of my harness and as soon as I was free I pulled up the selfie I took—eyes crossed, huge grin with all of my teeth showing—and sent it to Jace. Wish you were here, I texted. He texted me right back. So do I. Your eyes are gonna stick like that one day, btw
“I’m gonna be sick,” Bentley said, leaning over my shoulder and reading my text. His shadow fell over me, his ears casting a silhouette on my phone. He elbowed me. “Something’s different.” He cocked his head. “You really like this guy?”
I smiled. “I don’t know just yet,” I answered, and looked out over the gorge as Sugar came flying across. “But I think I do, yeah.”
As far as Jace Beaumont goes…I’m really, really funny about my heroes. I’ve never found one single Hollywood star to cast because they’re usually a myriad of stars! But Jace’s smoldering sexy-good looks come pretty dang close to Captain America himself, Chris Evans. Phew! Hot flash!
I have a total weak spot for VETS. My grandpa was a gritty old WWII vet and I seem to always gravitate toward a similar character as him to add into my stories. In Stupid Love, old Jasper is no exception. In my mind he looks like Wilford Brimly!
Finally, for Memory’s father Max, I totally saw him as Jeffrey Dean Morgan. He is a quiet sexy that any age can appreciate!
Years ago my husband and I had one of our first cars insured at a small town company and the girl working the desk was named Memory I always thought she had such an interesting name! Although I’ve written many books, this is the first time the name really fit a heroine. As the story goes, it does hold a double meaning. She’s fought a life-threatening disease and won, and she plans on making each memory in her life count!
2. Memory is described as a bit of a wild child. How did the process for writing her character differ from creating your previous heroines in the series, Olivia and Harper?
Olivia and Harper both had horrible things happen to them in their past, and the events were caused by another person. Memory’s significant past came at the hand of fate, not another person’s ruthless act. Overcoming it made her strong, though, just as Olivia and Harper’s did. But it also made Memory complacent. Writing her wild-child mannerisms was entirely a blast! She just lives each moment as though it was her last, and doesn’t take her loved ones for granted.
3. Memory zip lines, swing from bridges, and a few other things that would make most people have heart palpations. What is the most adventuresome thing you’ve ever done? How did you weave that experience into STUPID LOVE?
Hmmm…I’d love to think I was once a daredevil! I did grow up on the river, and I water skied, etc. I’ve climbed crumbling castles. But I don’t think I’m quite as daring as Memory! It’s fun imagining it though!
4. What is your favorite line from STUPID LOVE?
Wow—there are a lot! But “I am so in crazy with you” stands out.
5. What makes Jace Beaumont the perfect match for Memory?
As my grandma used to say, “he is the sugar in her tomato sauce” Lol! Jace grounds Memory, I think. He shows her how to love deeply.
6. What’s your next project on the horizon?
I’m not quite sure yet! I’m playing around with a few ideas including another New Adult, or a YA perhaps.
7. Lightning Round! Answer the following prompts with the first thing that comes to mind:
a. Vacation is best at the beach or in the mountains? Beach
b. Is everything better with bacon? Of course!
c. What’s your favorite social media venue to interact with readers? Facebook
d. What’s the last book you read? Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. Excellent!
e. Kimmel, Fallon, or past your bedtime? OMG FALLON!
f. Besides the main couples in the Stupid in Love series—Olivia and Brax, Harper and Kane, and Memory and Jace—who was your most favorite character to write? I loved Jilly in Stupid Girl, and I adored his old pal Jasper in Stupid Love!
g. Favorite musician of all time? No way! Too difficult! But one of my top 5 is Freddy Mercury Steve Tyler
h. Favorite place to write? On my porch swing
National bestselling author Cindy Miles writes edgy romance, ranging from contemporary love stories to sexy paranormals. A native of southern coastal Georgia, she loves reading (naturally), baking swoon-worthy desserts, traveling abroad, yoga, and classic rock. The cover for her debut New Adult romance, STUPID GIRL, was featured on USA Today's Happily Ever After blog. In the novel, a volatile mix of bad boys, sassy smart girls, dark secrets, and red-hot romance add up to one wild ride through college. The second book in her Stupid in Love series, STUPID BOY, features a wickedly handsome law-breaker who falls for a beautiful, straight-A college student with an ugly past of her own.
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