Better When It Hurts: Stripped Series

An exploration of why people all over the world love to engage in pain on purpose--from dominatrices, religious ascetics, and ultramarathoners to ballerinas, icy ocean bathers, and sideshow performers Masochism is sexy, human, reviled, worshipped, and can be delightfully bizarre. Deliberate and consensual pain has been with us for millennia, encompassing everyone from Black Plague flagellants to ballerinas dancing on broken bones to competitive eaters choking down hot peppers while they cry. Masochism is a part of us. It lives inside workaholics, tattoo enthusiasts, and all manner of garden variety pain-seekers. At its core, masochism is about feeling bad, then better—a phenomenon that is long overdue for a heartfelt and hilarious investigation. And Leigh Cowart would know: they are not just a researcher and science writer—they’re an inveterate, high-sensation seeking masochist. And they have a few questions: Why do people engage in masochism? What are the benefits and the costs? And what does masochism have to say about the human experience? By participating in many of these activities themselves, and through conversations with psychologists, fellow scientists, and people who seek pain for pleasure, Cowart unveils how our minds and bodies find meaning and relief in pain—a quirk in our programming that drives discipline and innovation even as it threatens to swallow us whole.

With more than 450,000 copies in print, When Helping Hurts is a paradigm-forming contemporary classic on the subject of poverty alleviation. Poverty is much more than simply a lack of material resources, and it takes much more than donations and handouts to solve it. When Helping Hurts shows how some alleviation efforts, failing to consider the complexities of poverty, have actually (and unintentionally) done more harm than good. But it looks ahead. It encourages us to see the dignity in everyone, to empower the materially poor, and to know that we are all uniquely needy—and that God in the gospel is reconciling all things to himself. Focusing on both North American and Majority World contexts, When Helping Hurts provides proven strategies for effective poverty alleviation, catalyzing the idea that sustainable change comes not from the outside in, but from the inside out.

"Hold You Against Me quite literally grabs a hold and refuses to let go until the end. Truly one of the first Mafia books I've read that sucked me in with a completely original and brilliant storyline that had me guessing the entire time!" ~ #1 NYT Bestselling Author Rachel Van Dyken Once upon a time the daughter of a mafia king fell in love with a foot soldier. This fairy tale didn't have a happy ending. My sister and I barely managed to escape alive, and we've lived in relative hiding ever since. I'm safe now, but I can never forget the boy who gave his life to save mine. Except there's a chance that he's still alive. And he's fighting a war. Even knowing the risks, I have to find him. I have to find some way to protect him, the way he protected me. But he isn't the boy I left behind. He's a violent man. A criminal. And he's been waiting for me--the final pawn in a dark game of survival and love. "Suspenseful and sexy, Hold You Against Me will leave you gasping for breath and wanting more. Skye Warren is the queen of dark reads and she comes through once again with Hold You Against Me. An absolute must read." ~ USA Today best selling author Rebecca Shea "It's so beautifully written with lyrical prose that has an edge to remind you that this is so much more than a love story. This book is everything I wanted and more for Clara and Giovanni. It broke my heart and put it back together again..." - Kimberly, The Book Sirens "This is the story I've been dying for, and it's a story I never expected. Beautifully layered, romantic and sexy, Skye Warren delivers a complex story of fierce loyalty, absolution, and endless love. The writing in this book is as breathtaking as the story is unforgettable. I absolutely loved it. " - Angie and Jessica's Dreamy Reads **************** QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS BOOK Is Hold You Against Me really a standalone? Yes! Hold You Against Me has the complete story of Giovanni and Clara, beginning to end. It includes the prequel novella Tough Love. Can I read Tough Love early? Tough Love is available FREE on all retailers now. It's also included in Hold You Against Me. Is there a cliffhanger at the end of Hold You Against Me? Nope. How dark is this book? Hold You Against Me is possibly the most romantic book I've ever written. It's also a dark romance, so this hero will do anything to have the woman he loves.

Thirty biblical meditations for women that offer hope in times of suffering. Thirty biblical meditations for women that offer hope in times of suffering. Hurt is real. But so is hope. Kristen and Sarah have walked through, and are walking in, difficult times. So these thirty biblical reflections are full of realism about the hurts of life-yet overwhelmingly full of hope about the God who gives life. This book will gently encourage and greatly help any woman who is struggling with suffering-whether physical, emotional or psychological, and whether for a season or for longer. It is a book to buy for yourself, or to buy for a member of your church or friend. For anyone who is hurting, this book will give hope, not just for life beyond the suffering, but for life in the suffering. Each chapter contains a biblical reflection, with questions and prayers, and a space for journaling.

Bullying doesn't stop just because the bullies grow up. In seventh grade, Maggie Camden was the class outcast. Every day, the other girls tripped her, pinched her, trapped her in the bathroom, told her she would be better off dead. Four years have passed since then, and Maggie’s tormentors seem to have moved on. The ringleader of them all, Raleigh Barringer, even moved out of town. But Maggie has never stopped watching for attacks, and every laugh still sounds like it’s at her expense. The only time Maggie feels at peace is when she’s hiking up in the mountains with her best friend, Nick. Lately, though, there’s a new sort of tension between the two of them—a tension both dangerous and delicious. But how can Maggie expect anything more out of Nick when all she’s ever been told is that she’s ugly, she’s pathetic, she’s unworthy of love? And how can she ever feel safe, now that Raleigh Barringer is suddenly—terrifyingly—back in town?

Guitarist Elijah and actress Kristen connect after unusual circumstances bring them together, but cruelty from strangers online and Kristen's strict father threaten their relationship.

In this comprehensive textbook devoted to the craft of writing horror fiction, award-winning author Tim Waggoner draws on thirty years' experience as a writer and teacher. Writing in the Dark offers advice, guidance, and insights on how to compose horror stories and novels that are original, frightening, entertaining, and well-written. Waggoner covers a wide range of topics, among them why horror matters, building viable monsters, generating ideas and plotlines, how to stylize narratives in compelling ways, the physiology of fear, the art of suspense, avoiding clichés, marketing your horror writing, and much more. Each chapter includes tips from some of the best horror professionals working today, such as Joe Hill, Ellen Datlow, Joe R. Lansdale, Maurice Broaddus, Yvette Tan, Thomas Ligotti, Jonathan Maberry, Edward Lee, and John Shirley. There are also appendices with critical reflections, pointers on the writing process, ideas for characters and story arcs, and material for further research. Writing in the Dark derives from Waggoner's longtime blog of the same name. Suitable for classroom use, intensive study, and bedside reading, this essential manual will appeal to new authors at the beginning of their career as well as veterans of the horror genre who want to brush up on their technique.

No one would say that our story is pretty... But we were in love before we hated each other. And we were friends long before that. Growing up, I saw Jace Zielinski every day. He lived next door. I cheered him on at football games. I gave him advice on girls. He was my brother's best friend and the three of us were inseparable. I didn't realize I'd already fallen for Jace until the hot summer night when we kissed for the first time. Our magical season felt like destiny. And then came the disaster that tore us all to shreds. I lost Jace. I lost my brother. In many ways I lost myself. Ten years later, Jace is untouchable in a world of pro athlete fame and glory. I never wanted to see him again and I'd definitely never pick him to be my hero. Not even when I'm broke and terrified and running for my life. But it seems I have no choice. Somehow we're both back in the same place where we started. I have nowhere else to go and Jace refuses to leave. We're not the same as we were. We're not those teenagers who fell in love years ago. That doesn't mean we'll keep our hands to ourselves now. If anything, I want Jace more than ever. And we are foolish enough to repeat our own turbulent history. Both the parts that felt crazy good. And the parts that hurt the most... TILL IT HURTS is a complete stand alone at 110,000 words. Expect hate banter, plot twists, scorching chemistry and all the feels of a small town second chance romance.

My prayer is that every hurt you have encountered throughout your life will be released from you as you go through the various chapters. Like a person who sets a goal to lose weight, you will set a goal in your mind and heart today, and you will begin working hard to lose hurts that have been keeping you from your destiny and the land of promise. Many of you think because you are walking in the newness of life everyone else is traveling the same road. The mind you now have is the mind of Christ, and your sole purpose is to please God. You do not expect to deal with drama in the church. You expect to see a noticeable difference between the unsaved and those who profess salvation. The dreadful cycle of hurt has damaged, wounded, and killed many people in the church. No matter how hard you try to camouflage the pain inside, it is not hidden. You can cover bruises, scars, and cuts, but hurt to the heart shows in various forms that are noticeable. Evangelist Joyce L. Carelock is known for her words of encouragement, wisdom and her passionate call to motivate others to do the will of God. By the mercies of God she has moved out in faith to help others identify and understand their God given abilities. She believes that God has her in this place for a time such as this. Her motto is: "If I can have it, God can Heal It." She is determined to believe God no matter what! She has spoken at many women's retreats and conferences, etc. With joy, she now serves as First Lady of Grace and Mercy Cathedral COGIC, in Chantilly, VA.