Cheap Thrills Series by Mary B. Moore, Simply Defined Art

JoseEvery little girl dreams of a big white wedding with their knight in shining armor. They’d have 2.5 kids, a beautiful house, birds flying around with crowns made of flowers, and live happily ever after. None of us ever dreamed of being divorced with a baby because we discovered that the knight was an evil ogre when we came home from a prenatal appointment and caught him in bed with another woman... moreJoseEvery little girl dreams of a big white wedding with their knight in shining armor. They’d have 2.5 kids, a beautiful house, birds flying around with crowns made of flowers, and live happily ever after. None of us ever dreamed of being divorced with a baby because we discovered that the knight was an evil ogre when we came home from a prenatal appointment and caught him in bed with another woman. Yet, here I was, twenty-six, a single mom, trying to find a magic spell to keep the ogre out of my life.My sister Tabitha’s arrival on the day I found him cheating brought something I needed into my life - someone who acted and loved like a real family member. I hadn’t even known she existed until that ancestry DNA testing gift, but it felt like I’d known her my whole life.Now I wanted my dream, but I wanted to have a fresh start and be me for the first time in years. I wanted to live my best life with my daughter, laugh every day… basically I wanted the dream without the knight.Then, my soon to be brother-in-law’s best friend dares me to go out on a date with him, and it’s not a dare I can say no to. EllisI’ve been a tattoo artist for years. I’ve met great people, weird people, pain’s in the ass, you name it, but I’ve never met anyone like Jose. We’re proof that opposites attract, but every time I ask her out she keeps saying no. So, I came up with a plan, a plan based on handing out dares knowing she wouldn’t say no to them. Why? Because she’s the most stubborn woman in the world. When that still wasn’t enough, I went ahead and submitted a photograph of the two of us into a competition in an ink magazine. Guess what - it won, so it’s now on billboards all over the country and she can’t get away from me. So now we’re living on a dare.And I dare Jose to say no. less

Katy Ever felt like you’ve had a crush on someone your whole life, but they never see you back? That’s what it felt like with Jarrod Kline. I worked in the same building as him, I gave him his jobs, I took his order for lunch… but that was it. Being shy didn’t help either. I wanted to be like the other women around me – ballsy, a go-getter, confident… I wanted to be like Tabby, Jose, Rose, and the Townsend women... moreKaty Ever felt like you’ve had a crush on someone your whole life, but they never see you back? That’s what it felt like with Jarrod Kline. I worked in the same building as him, I gave him his jobs, I took his order for lunch… but that was it. Being shy didn’t help either. I wanted to be like the other women around me – ballsy, a go-getter, confident… I wanted to be like Tabby, Jose, Rose, and the Townsend women. Then, one night after a lot of margarita consumption, we hatched a plan – the ‘Get Yo Man Plan’, aka GYMP. Now that I’m sober, I realize what we’ve called it, but the GYMP is motion and it’s too late to turn back now. Jarrod I was the longest baby the day I was born, the tallest in preschool, the tallest in kindergarten… you get the point, I’ve always stood out. The problem was, I was also uncomfortable with it. For once, I wanted to not be seen, to do something that no one could see me doing. I’d looked into how to become an audiobook narrator after Tabby’s suggestion, and it seemed easy enough. So now I was a mechanic by day and an audiobook narrator by night, but only a couple of people knew about that last part.And then Katy started working at the garage, and the scenes I’d been uncomfortable reading they took on a whole new meaning.I just have one question, what the hell is GYMP? less

After twenty-nine years working as a police officer in NY, my dad attended a call that shocked the country when the details were aired on the news. He’d done everything he could, but he’d been too late to save the daughter of a powerful businessman. After a lengthy trial and investigation, and with her killer in prison, her father had turned his focus onto the people he felt failed him and her—my dad and his partner included, and their families... moreAfter twenty-nine years working as a police officer in NY, my dad attended a call that shocked the country when the details were aired on the news. He’d done everything he could, but he’d been too late to save the daughter of a powerful businessman. After a lengthy trial and investigation, and with her killer in prison, her father had turned his focus onto the people he felt failed him and her—my dad and his partner included, and their families. After a close call, we decided it would be safer and Dad could focus on stopping Cevdet Gjorka if I wasn’t there, so I started over somewhere far away from my family as Zuri Hadid. I’ve kept my head down and work at a hospital in Texas now, not saying more than I have to. Well, until the topic of jelly fish came up and I remembered a meme I’d seen online. Who can resist spouting facts that probably aren’t true? Not me!It was only meant to be temporary, but I love living in Piersville… and then there’s Garrett Evans. He makes me want to get out and live again, instead of hiding all the time. Sometimes bad things bring new joy and light into our lives, right? That is until trouble found me.∞∞∞∞Leaving the military should have been a scary experience, but I couldn’t say I felt that way.Yeah, I’ve had some nightmares and I definitely have scars, but I’d come out of the Army with plans for my new civilian life, and it’d turned out better than I thought it would. Some of my scars weren’t from the military, though, and if I’d known a jellyfish sting years ago would bring Zuri into my life, I’d have thanked it instead of calling it every name under the sun. But then, for some ungodly reason, I’d immediately friend zoned myself with her.Fortunately, I prefer to think of zones as suggestions, not limits, and suggestions can be changed with a bit of persuasion and work, so that’s what I set about doing. Well, after we’d both been stitched up in hospital after an unfortunate accident involving me and a door, with Zuri standing on a chair on the other side of it. It didn’t break the ice per se, but it definitely broke the glass.I never imagined that the kinds of monsters I’d fought against would follow me from my old life into the new one. These ones weren’t terrorists from overseas, they were living on home soil with the power of money behind them who wanted revenge, and for people to feel the pain they were feeling. One thing is clear, though—when you get good in your life, you fight to keep it. Who knew a meme could have such an impact. less

LoganI made a mistake seven years ago and opened my mouth, letting words fly out of it that I didn’t mean. I said something about the one person I never wanted to hurt and lost my best friend. Now she’s back and needs help her with her loss, and I’m going to be the best rock in the history of rocks and make it right between us again. I’d do anything to get Bexley Heath back in my life, even if it means helping out with her dog, who hates me and loves to destroy everything around him... moreLoganI made a mistake seven years ago and opened my mouth, letting words fly out of it that I didn’t mean. I said something about the one person I never wanted to hurt and lost my best friend. Now she’s back and needs help her with her loss, and I’m going to be the best rock in the history of rocks and make it right between us again. I’d do anything to get Bexley Heath back in my life, even if it means helping out with her dog, who hates me and loves to destroy everything around him. Time doesn’t kill love. Neither does a giant Irish Wolfhound eating my favorite chair.BexleyI’d successfully avoided Logan Richards for seven years, but somehow losing my grandpa brought him back into my life. Perhaps Papa was right when he said in his last letter that it was time to get over it and just let it go. Life’s too short, and forgiveness is divine, right?He’s my anchor when I need it and my tissues when I cry. But that doesn’t mean I can’t reward my dog for causing him grief and destroying some of his furniture, though, does it? To heck with it, good Doyle. less

Carter Years ago, Naomi was the girl who saved my life without knowing it. All it took was a handful of innocent words to change the decision I was about to make. I’d heard about her brother dying from one of our teammates, and I’d wondered if I’d ever be able to make the difference for her that she’d made for me back then... moreCarter Years ago, Naomi was the girl who saved my life without knowing it. All it took was a handful of innocent words to change the decision I was about to make. I’d heard about her brother dying from one of our teammates, and I’d wondered if I’d ever be able to make the difference for her that she’d made for me back then.Ending up in the same town hundreds of miles away from our hometown was a fluke, but what if I was her monkey wrench? I knew what loss was, and I’d felt the pain and how easy it was to suffocate under it, but what if I was the wrench that fits all of the pieces of her life and holds them in place so she could put it back together again for her and her niece. And what if she was mine?NaomiRaising my niece by myself wasn’t easy, but moving to Piersville from Fernandina Beach was the best decision I could have made for us. I just didn't count on Carter Lane being here, too. He’s always been quiet, but around me, that changes. I don't know what anything the guy does means, though. Carter’s helpful, he's great with Shanti, makes me laugh, and it blew my mind when he gave me the Blow Pop I'd given him all those years ago in a frame. But what does it all mean?Changing life paths isn't easy, but it's a damn sight simpler than trying to figure out a man’s mind. Especially his. less