Cara Faith Donvovan's Blog, page 22
February 10, 2020
Trouble with Wolves - Danielle Annett
Title: Trouble with Wolves
Series: Bone & Magic #1Author: Danielle AnnettGenre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal RomanceRelease Date: February 10, 2020
Blurb
Shifters and humans don’t mix … But Red isn’t like any human I’ve met before.
He doesn’t fear shifters, and for some reason he wants to help me forge peace between my Pack and the town.
Our relationship morphs from unlikely allies to ... more. And the more I’m around Red, the more I crave him.
But none of that matters when fate steps in, and I find myself leading the Pack.
My Pack will never accept him.
The people of Lethbridge will never accept me.
And a relationship with a human is the last thing I need.
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Excerpt
In silence, Embry and I watched as the others moved to help their fallen friend. “We have the element of surprise. We could—”“No.” I cut off his comment. We weren’t savages and attacking the men wouldn’t solve our problems.“Lindy, you’re being unreasonable.” Embry growled, a deep rumble in his chest that caused the humans to grow still and silent, their eyes now turned in our direction.Shit. Shit. Shit.“What was that?” one man called out. “You all heard that growl, right?”Several men nodded. I flicked my gaze left then right, looking for our best means of escape. “Idiot,”I said, but Embry was no longer listening. He crouched low to the ground, his paws digging into the earth as he readied to strike. “Don’t you dare.”The humans all turned to one another, aware of our presence and uncertain of what to do. I crouched beside him, my body pressed up against his side. “Don’t do this.”I nudged Embry with my nose, urging him to retreat. We could disappear deeper into the forest, leave the humans to their bidding. We’d already driven them off their intended course—away from the Den and our vulnerable. There was no need to remain now that the imminent risk had subsided. The humans approached together, their eyes wary and their weapons raised. Two others shouldered their fallen man and slowly made their retreat. What to do…I scanned their numbers. One of the humans carried a bow. He stepped forward, his piercing eyes scanning every inch of his surroundings with cool efficiency. Unlike the other men, he didn’t smell of fear. Darker skinned and with a militant stance, he didn’t have any nervous ticks either. Trepidation flooded through my me. He was an outsider and something told me he was the one we needed to be wary of.“There are only four of them,” Embry said, following my train of thought.“That doesn’t matter. We can’t—”He lunged.Damn us all to hell—I lunged after him, unwilling to leave him to fight alone.
Author Bio
I'm just a girl with an obsession for Marvel movies, a love of all things Urban Fantasy, and a cheerleader for the underdog in any given story.
If you're looking for a heroine you can root for ... someone who defies the odds and gets up every time they're knocked down ... then look no further because that's what you'll find in my books.
I hope you'll join me in Aria Naveed's adventures. She's pretty badass if I do say so myself.
And if for some strange reason you want to know more about me, check out my website and catch me on Facebook.
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February 6, 2020
Love Bank - Marika Ray
Title: Love BankSeries: Jobs From Hell #1Author: Marika RayGenre: Romantic ComedyRelease Date: February 6, 2020
Blurb
In hindsight, maybe I should have known my biggest nemesis would end up locking up my heart.
Believe it or not, running a fertility clinic in Auburn Hill, located right next to a prison, isn’t the worst thing. Nope, the worst thing is the infuriatingly sexy warden of the new prison - who doesn’t care that his newly-released inmates are stopping by my clinic on their way out of town to make a “deposit” for some quick cash. Sure, it’s his circus, but according to him, those clowns aren’t his responsibility once they walk out the door.
Until one of them pulls a gun on me in a desperate robbery attempt and I realize I have to be a little more…ahem…persuasive with the warden. Stumbling upon him in a compromising position is just the leverage I need, and I’m not above a little blackmail. Turns out, he’s not above pushing me up against the door and kissing the hell out of me either.
Adding in ex-lovers, magical goats, scheming mayors, gossiping mail carriers, a man-hating mother, and nonstop seagull shenanigans makes me realize one thing.
Don’t bank on love developing here in Auburn Hell.
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Excerpt
She pulled back abruptly and whisked the stack of paper off my desk. She slapped one of the flyers on my chest and walked back toward the door like that was the end of things.I was getting real sick and tired of her discombobulating me like that. As a jail guard and now warden, I was used to people listening to me. I should be ending the conversation. Other people should jump to do my bidding. This role reversal was like one of those plastic tags on brand-new clothing that you accidentally leave in the fabric, causing it to scrape against your skin and lead to all kinds of irritation.I hopped out of my chair and followed her, intent on putting my foot down like a man, while also placating her so she didn’t run to our fellow citizens and complain about me. I was dancing a fine line, but I was willing to two-step if for no other reason than to make sure Lucille didn’t get away with blackmail. Not on my watch.As I stalked after her, I glanced down at the flyer, doing a double take when I saw the picture right smack dab in the center of the piece of paper.“Come donate to the Coastal Fertility Bank” in all capital letters, centered over a picture of a specimen cup. But upon closer scrutiny, it wasn’t just any specimen cup. It was my specimen cup. With my goddamn name on it for all the world to see.My feet halted their movement. Every single cell in my body flared to life with a stress signal. A state of emergency was declared inside my body, flooding my vision with a bright haze of red. My fingers tingled.I was going to kill her.The paper started to shake. Right before I crumpled it into my fist and tossed it to the ground. I looked up at her over by the door, seeing an entire ream of papers in her hand, all printed with my specimen cup front and center.She cocked a hip and even with a level of anger I hadn’t felt in a very long time pulsing through my body, I noticed. I noted every little thing about her from her stiletto heels to the hair on her head that was finally down and so luscious I wanted to grab hold of it and tug.Hard.“Oops. It’s pretty fuzzy. I’m sure people won’t be able to make out your name. Besides, I only put them up on a few poles on Brinestone Way so far.”She wrinkled her pretty little nose and I took a step toward her. Then another. She’d already put them up?Her eyes widened a fraction, seeing me advance on her. She waved the flyers around confidently, like she still had the upper hand. And fuck it all to hell, she did.I didn’t like that. Not one bit.Another step closer and some of that confidence faded.“What are you doing?” Her voice hitched in the middle.Another step and she backed up quickly.One final step to put me toe to toe with her and she reared her head back, eyes wary, cheeks flushed. Her back pressed against my closed door and she couldn’t run. The devil in me, the one she’d backed into a corner with her blackmailing schemes, stood up and announced himself the winner of this situation. All I had to do was show her I wouldn’t be messed with.“This.”I did what every hot-blooded male does when they’re so mad at a woman they can’t see straight.I indulged in revenge.My hand lifted, my fist releasing only long enough to drag my fingers through her hair and clench again, forcing her head to tip back with my forceful tug. My arm slid around her waist and in the back of my mind, I memorized the feel of her body pressed between me and the door. She gasped upon contact and I took full advantage.My lips crashed down onto hers, their only mission to subdue and humiliate. My tongue swiped a taste of her lips and all hell broke loose. The red alert inside my body changed in an instant. Instead of wanting to eliminate her, I wanted to consume her right then and there so she’d always be a part of me. I wanted to breathe the same air and coexist in the same space as her body, just so I never had to let go of her silky skin. She fit perfectly against me, her curves smashed against my chest, her lips perfectly pliant as I explored.A groan rent the air and I feared it was mine.
Author Bio
Marika Ray spends her time behind a computer crafting stories, walking the beaches of southern California, and making healthy food for her kids and husband whether they like it or not. Prior to writing novels, Marika held various jobs in the finance industry, with private start-up companies, and then in health & fitness. Cats may have nine lives, but Marika believes everyone should have nine careers to keep things spicy.
Marika enjoys writing all types of fiction novels, based on what inspires her. Right now she's working on a new steamy RomCom series along with sweet romances to make your heart explode. All her books come with a money-back guarantee that you’ll smile at least once with every book.
More information can be found at www.marikaray.com
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February 5, 2020
The Thing About Us - Jennifer Domenico
Title: The Thing About UsAuthor: Jennifer DomenicoGenre: Contemporary MMF Menage RomanceRelease Date: February 4, 2019
Blurb
It was all fun and games until it wasn’t. Lies, deceit, and jealousy threaten to tear the three of us apart. We can have it all, but that’s not as easy as it sounds.
Ben: I never thought I’d show my best friend this side of me, but I had to take my one shot or regret it forever.
Luc: It was only supposed to be one night of something I didn’t understand and never wanted, but it became so much more.
Georgie: They want me to choose, but I want them both. They just have to admit they want it too.
The thing about us? We can make it work...even if we have to fight to keep it together.
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Excerpt
Luc stands and walks across the office to shut the door. When he returns, he crouches down in front of me right between my legs. “Georgie’s going out of town for three days for work. I think you and I need to spend time together and talk through some things. I want us to feel comfortable and confident with each other whether she’s with us or not. It’s important to me, Ben. You’re important to me.” I search his eyes, desperate to kiss him. I try to look away, but he grips my chin, pulling my face back to his. “Stop, Luc.”“What’s wrong right now?”“What’s wrong? I want to fucking kiss you. That’s what’s wrong.”He smiles. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”“We’re at work and it’s complicated now.”He grips the back of my neck and pulls me close, pressing his lips on mine. When his tongue meets mine, I exhale slowly, as if I just received a life-saving injection. He always has this effect on me. I wrap my arms around his neck, sliding my fingers into his hair. When he pulls back slightly, I don’t want it to end, but I know it has to. Luc presses his forehead to mine, then leans back so our eyes can meet. “Nothing complicated about that is there?”I shake my head. “No.”“We’re attracted to each other, Ben. That’s just the bloody truth. We’ll deal with it. There’s a way for us to have our cake. What’s wrong with two mates having a go every now and then?”“Do you mean that?”“Did I just kiss you? Is Georgie here pushing me or did I initiate it on my own?”“It’s not because…I don’t know…maybe you’re taking pity on me because you know how bad I want you.”He grabs my shoulders. “Stop it. What man do you know, including yourself, would kiss another man out of pity? Give me some fucking credit, Ben. You’re not a fucking charity case. You’re my best and closest mate, and somehow, a different bond has developed. Don’t sell either of us short. It’s real.”
Author Bio
Jennifer Domenico writes contemporary and erotic romances. She loves alpha males with a soft spot, flawed characters, and strong, sassy women. Her characters usually have a side of kink and aren't afraid to demand what they want. The author doesn't apologize for that. She's a sucker for a happy ending as long as it comes with a lot of heat.
She lives in Phoenix, Arizona but is a Bostonian at heart. The way to her heart can be reached with a foreign accent, a shot of Fireball, and an unlimited supply of cupcakes.
She is also known under her alter ego, Jaelyn LaStoria, author of time travel romances, because why not.
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February 4, 2020
Just Getting Started - Kaylee Ryan and Lacey Black
Title: Just Getting Started
Series: Fair Lakes #2Authors: Kaylee Ryan & Lacey BlackGenre: Contemporary RomanceRelease Date: February 4, 2020
Blurb
Gabby
My life isn’t exactly going as planned. I’m basically floating up a certain creek withouta paddle. Desperately needing a new place to live, I receive an offer I can’t refuse, and you never look a gift horse in the mouth, right? Unless that particular mouth is connected to an uber sexy manwhore that makes me want to punch him in the face and then kiss him until I pass out from lack of oxygen. I must avoid him like the plague.
Chase
Gabby Connor; there is no request too small in my eyes. When I blurt out an offer I know she can’t refuse, I don’t think either one of us realize that our lives are about to change. Something else I didn’t comprehend, how hard it would be to keep my hands off of her, or my mouth, or my… you get the picture. It’s our time, no more hiding or waiting in the wings. I’m pulling out all the stops. I’m tired of being in the friend-zone. It’s time to take what I’ve always wanted.
But nothing is easy for us. Our road is full of twists and turns and a few surprises along the way. When push comes to shove and the cards are thrown on the table, can we navigate a new life, especially when we’re just getting started?
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Kaylee Ryan
Kaylee Ryan is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author. When she’s not spinning tales of happily ever after, she’s reading or spending time with family. Born and raised an Ohio girl, Kaylee resides in Cincinnati with her husband and their son.
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Lacey Black
Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading and writing. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and a chocolate lab. Lacey loves shooting guns and should only consume one mixed drink because she’s a lightweight.
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January 31, 2020
Burned - Lexxi James
Title: BurnedSeries: Alex Drake #3Author: Lexxi JamesGenre: Contemporary Romance/Suspense
Release Date: January 31, 2020
Blurb
Nothing burns like an old flame. Book #3 in the Alex Drake Series
Marrying man Alex Drake has topped his multi-billion-dollar empire by securing the love of his life. But when an old flame re-enters the picture with information on Jack Taylor’s death, can a tough and tenacious Madison discover the truth behind her brother’s death without getting singed in the seductive crossfire?
Meet the woman who turned A.J. into Alex and find out why the name Jordan Stone is on everyone’s lips.
Warning: Full Steam Ahead.
Lexxi James Books are seductive, suspenseful romances filled with fun, sensual, and explicit love scenes.
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Author Bio
Lexxi James | Author of Romantic Suspense
Lexxi James is a best-selling author of mystery & suspense seductively wrapped in a love story. When not strapped to her laptop, she on a perpetual quest for the best cup of cappuccino. Her addictions include her HEA man, bourbon, and smoking hot romance novels.
She loves to connect! Check out her newsletter & stalk her on social media.
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January 28, 2020
The Romeo Effect - Lila Monroe
Title: The Romeo Effect
Series: Cupids #3Author: Lila MonroeGenre: Romantic ComedyRelease Date: January 28, 2020
Blurb
Is it fate…. Or just the Romeo effect? Discover the hot and hilarious new stand-alone romantic comedy from USA Today bestselling author, Lila Monroe!
Seth Harding is the King of Meet-Cutes. If you get trapped in an elevator with a handsome stranger, or stranded on a moonlit cruise with the man of your dreams, chances are, it’s not fate bringing the two of you together, it’s Seth somewhere, pulling the strings.
At least, that’s what I find out, when someone hires Seth to help win my heart. It would be romantic… if he weren’t all wrong for me. And Mr Right…?
Well, he might just be the guy behind the scenes.
Suddenly, my faith in soulmates is hitting a major complication. Seth is cynical, and argumentative… and seriously irresistible. Soon, the sparks between us are impossible to ignore. But can this hopeful romantic really find love with a man who engineers happily-ever-afters for a living? And when all the tricks and tests are stripped away, what makes two people truly meant to be?
Find out in the latest laugh-out-loud read from “The reigning queen of romantic comedy”, Lila Monroe!
Cupids Series:1. Cupids Anonymous2. What’s Your Sign?3. The Romeo Effect4. The Break-Up Artist (May 2020)
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Author Bio
Combining her love of writing, sex and well-fitted suits, Lila Monroe wrote The Billionaire Bargain. Lila enjoys writing, as it gives her a flexible schedule to spend time with her kids and a wonderful excuse to avoid them. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, who strips out of his well-fitted suits nightly.
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January 24, 2020
There's a Right Way and a Wrong Way to "Ditch JUUL"
There’s a right way and a wrong way to “Ditch JUUL”Author: Minnesota Smoke Free Alliance
Across the nation parents, educators, public health groups, and lawmakers are working hard to prevent youth use of adult products. Normally, we would applaud those efforts. On January 7, 2020 we became aware of a new campaign that has us deeply concerned. It crosses the line between encouraging kids to not use adult products to motivating children to be in possession of products not legal for them to have, normalizing kids having these products, and then having kids make a video of themselves taking a serious risk of injury, death, fire, or property damage by destroying their JUUL or other vapor product. .
We learned of this campaign from the article by People Magazine "From Hot Ice to Swimming Pools, Teens Are Coming Up with Creative Ways to Ditch Their Vapes" . The article states “Truth Initiative is encouraging youths to quit using e-cigarettes and break their vapes in viral videos”. Truth’s “This is Quitting” campaign is using influencers on social media platforms such as TikTok to encourage kids and young adults to ditch their JUUL (or other vapor product) and then post the video of them doing it. Although this is a unique and novel idea, we have very grave concerns about the lack of thought for the safety of our youth who are participating in this campaign. The campaign has been shared on several forms of social media by People Magazine, Truth Initiative, Truth Orange, and many public health / anti tobacco groups. News of the story is spreading and can now be found on websites such as Time, Now This, PopSugar Fitness, More About Advertising, etc. As of January 15, 2020, the campaign has spread to other countries, endangering children around the world. This campaign / challenge by Truth Initiative raises the following concerns:Safety Concerns
Vapor products are powered by lithium ion batteries. The same types of batteries used in computers, cell phones, toys, and other consumer products. These compact batteries have a lot of power to them, and must be handled properly. According to the Lithium Battery Safety Guide by the University of Washington, the following are important battery safety tips:
Handle batteries and or battery-powered devices cautiously to not damage the battery casing or connections.Keep batteries from contacting conductive materials, water, seawater, strong oxidizers and strong acids.Do not place batteries in direct sunlight, on hot surfaces or in hot locations.
People aware of the potential for injuries caused by the willful destruction of products powered by lithium ion batteries immediately responded to People Magazine on twitter and asked for the story to be retracted. The story is still online.
Several concerned citizens responded to Truth Initiative’s tweet and facebook post and Truth Orange’s tweet warning of the danger and asking them to stop this campaign. No one received a reply from Truth. Most of the warnings started on January 7, 2020. Truth ignored the warnings and on January 8th repeated the push for the campaign on Twitter, Facebook (Truth Initiative), Facebook (Truth Orange), Instagram, and on their website. They continued to promote this “challenge” over the next few days.
Truth didn’t need to be warned by the general public. They were already aware of the potential hazards of mishandling lithium ion batteries. The Ex Program by Truth Initiative as well as Truth’s e-cigarette fact sheet both mention the potential for battery explosions.
Vaping consumers and industry stakeholders appear to be working harder to promote battery safety, than a health organization that’s promoting children do dangerous things with batteries.Environmental Concerns
The GUIDE: How to Responsibly Dispose of Lithium-Ion Batteries, educates about the need to handle and dispose of lithium ion batteries properly because if batteries are handled incorrectly, there is a higher risk of fire, pollution and other negative effects. The guide says “Lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries contain a variety of chemicals. Improper disposal has significant consequences, such as environmental pollution and loss of (material) resources.” Their list of “don’ts” include:
Dispose of li-ion batteries with ‘regular’ wasteCrush, puncture, throw or do anything to the batteries that might result in damage to themAn effort to encourage youth to stop using vapor products and get rid of them was a perfect opportunity to also educate young people on how to properly dispose of these products. For years, Truth has talked about the litter and toxic waste caused by cigarette butts. Examples of their concern include coastal areas (Instagram), most littered item on Earth (Instagram), and cigarette butts will pollute the planet (YouTube).
The batteries in vapor products should be recycled, not thrown in the trash or tossed around as litter, or thrown into bodies of water. In recent years Truth has expressed concerns about the environmental impact of vapor product waste. On April 16, 2019 Truth Orange post a video on YouTube about vapor products creating toxic waste. Videos from October 24, 2019 #1and October 24, 2019 #2 made claims of environmental dangers of not properly disposing of vapor products. This shows that long before their “Ready to Ditch JUUL” campaign, they were aware that these products should be disposed of properly.
What is the reason Truth Initiative is ignoring the danger and environmental impact of mishandling vaping devices that contain these batteries? We do not know.Examples of participants in the Ditch JUUL Campaign
Below are examples of some of the videos we found from young people participating in this challenge, and some examples of why it’s dangerous to do these things to batteries.
Hitting a vape with a hammer video #1 and video #2. Dropping products in water and then smashing with gym weights. Hitting with a meat tenderizer and then flushing down the toilet. They are lucky it didn’t explode and catch fire, because this is what could have happened when those products were subjected to an impact.
In this video the participant drops the battery into a beaker of what appears to be baking soda and vinegar. According to Good Housekeeping, baking soda and vinegar should never be mixed. It can be explosive. We’ve also mentioned in a section above, the batteries shouldn’t be exposed to acidic chemicals. Vinegar is an acid.
This is the reaction that can happen when batteries are exposed to liquids. These are examples of young people throwing vapor products into bodies of water: here, here, and a swimming pool. This young person taped a vape to his chest and belly flopped into a pool. There are many more videos on TikTok of kids and young adults dropping a JUUL into water.
Dropping products into boiling water. Overheating batteries can cause thermal runaway as demonstrated in this video.
Exposing product to spray paint and dropping it into what looks like urine
Tossing it on the ground and smoking a cigarette instead. Here’s another one suggesting deadly smoking instead of vaping.Using cola and what looks like mentos candy with a vape to create exploding bottles of popPutting a vapor product in a tailpipe and shooting it out the exhaust with flames.There are a few videos on people improperly disposing of their devices by throwing them in the trash. Here is an example. Vape batteries should never be thrown in the trash because batteries that are damaged by a compactor truck may start a fire. Endangering the life of another by mistaking an asthma inhaler for a vape and throwing it in the trash. If it were a vapor product, it doesn’t belong in the trash because that’s not the proper way to dispose of batteries. “Normalizing” children using adult products (marketing to kids)
The Truth Initiative has a long history of expressing concerns over children seeing the use of tobacco or vapor products in their daily lives. From retail outlets, movies, video games, social media, and others using the products, they have sounded the alarm over the normalization of youth use of tobacco products. (Examples: 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2019)
The “Ditch JUUL” campaign shows young people around the world with a vapor product in their hand. In most locations, it is not legal for these children to have those products. This campaign not only normalizes children having these products, it normalizes disrespect for the law.
The Truth Initiative often shares images of cool, hip, young people using tobacco and vapor products. Isn’t this another form of marketing to kids? Isn’t the constant bombardment of images of cool young people using tobacco and vapor products a form of normalizing the use of these products? Here are a few examples: 12/2/19, 12/16/19, 12/21/19, 12/27/19, and 1/7/20. Wouldn’t our children be better served by not seeing images of people smoking or vaping? These concerns are being expressed by more than us
Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW - “I want to launch an account on TikTok to counter the #ThisIsQuitting HT by offering youth who want to quit strategies to recognize patterns, try moderation and reduction strategies, and avoid electrocuting themselves.”
Brad Rodu, Professor of Medicine at the University of Louisville, endowed chair in tobacco harm reduction research, and a member of the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at the U of L, has expressed concerns that our efforts to persuade children not to use adult products is in reality having the unintended consequence of marketing those products to our kids. Once example of his speaking out about these concerns is in this piece he wrote: "FDA Infographic on Teen Vaping: Hey Kids!".
Truth Initiative Promo Encourages Risky Teen Behavior by Jim McDonald from Vaping 360. Mr. McDonald covers several of the issues that are covered in this report. He said “Apparently no one at Truth Initiative thought about the potential consequences of promoting activities that might lead to battery cells rupturing and going into thermal runaway. That could happen when you jump on an e-cigarette, throw in on concrete, drag it behind a car, or fly it through the air with a hot-air balloon—all stunts depicted in Truth’s collection of TikTok videos.” He goes on to cover the issue of putting these batteries in water. “Submerging lithium batteries in water is also a bad idea. If the device was damaged (for example, by dragging it from a car, throwing it on concrete, or jumping on it), contact with water might create a short that could lead to a fiery explosion. It’s odd that Truth would ignore these risks, since the organization’s own website has a warning about vape explosions.”Conclusion
We agree with the facebook post by Vida News. It is time to STOP targeting our kids with ads that make them think “everyone is doing it”. It is not OK for manufacturers or retailers to show kids using adult products, and it shouldn’t be OK for the media or advocacy and health organizations to do so, either. It doesn’t matter WHO shows images of children using adult products in the eyes of a child, all they see is that kids are doing it and it motivates them to do it, too. We teach by example. Let’s make sure the example our children see does not involve children having adult products. This holds doubly true when it comes to encouraging our children to do something with those products that could endanger the health and well being of children and could result in injuries, death, environmental issues, explosions and fires.
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Across the nation parents, educators, public health groups, and lawmakers are working hard to prevent youth use of adult products. Normally, we would applaud those efforts. On January 7, 2020 we became aware of a new campaign that has us deeply concerned. It crosses the line between encouraging kids to not use adult products to motivating children to be in possession of products not legal for them to have, normalizing kids having these products, and then having kids make a video of themselves taking a serious risk of injury, death, fire, or property damage by destroying their JUUL or other vapor product. . We learned of this campaign from the article by People Magazine "From Hot Ice to Swimming Pools, Teens Are Coming Up with Creative Ways to Ditch Their Vapes" . The article states “Truth Initiative is encouraging youths to quit using e-cigarettes and break their vapes in viral videos”. Truth’s “This is Quitting” campaign is using influencers on social media platforms such as TikTok to encourage kids and young adults to ditch their JUUL (or other vapor product) and then post the video of them doing it. Although this is a unique and novel idea, we have very grave concerns about the lack of thought for the safety of our youth who are participating in this campaign. The campaign has been shared on several forms of social media by People Magazine, Truth Initiative, Truth Orange, and many public health / anti tobacco groups. News of the story is spreading and can now be found on websites such as Time, Now This, PopSugar Fitness, More About Advertising, etc. As of January 15, 2020, the campaign has spread to other countries, endangering children around the world. This campaign / challenge by Truth Initiative raises the following concerns:Safety Concerns
Vapor products are powered by lithium ion batteries. The same types of batteries used in computers, cell phones, toys, and other consumer products. These compact batteries have a lot of power to them, and must be handled properly. According to the Lithium Battery Safety Guide by the University of Washington, the following are important battery safety tips:
Handle batteries and or battery-powered devices cautiously to not damage the battery casing or connections.Keep batteries from contacting conductive materials, water, seawater, strong oxidizers and strong acids.Do not place batteries in direct sunlight, on hot surfaces or in hot locations.
People aware of the potential for injuries caused by the willful destruction of products powered by lithium ion batteries immediately responded to People Magazine on twitter and asked for the story to be retracted. The story is still online.
Several concerned citizens responded to Truth Initiative’s tweet and facebook post and Truth Orange’s tweet warning of the danger and asking them to stop this campaign. No one received a reply from Truth. Most of the warnings started on January 7, 2020. Truth ignored the warnings and on January 8th repeated the push for the campaign on Twitter, Facebook (Truth Initiative), Facebook (Truth Orange), Instagram, and on their website. They continued to promote this “challenge” over the next few days.
Truth didn’t need to be warned by the general public. They were already aware of the potential hazards of mishandling lithium ion batteries. The Ex Program by Truth Initiative as well as Truth’s e-cigarette fact sheet both mention the potential for battery explosions.
Vaping consumers and industry stakeholders appear to be working harder to promote battery safety, than a health organization that’s promoting children do dangerous things with batteries.Environmental Concerns
The GUIDE: How to Responsibly Dispose of Lithium-Ion Batteries, educates about the need to handle and dispose of lithium ion batteries properly because if batteries are handled incorrectly, there is a higher risk of fire, pollution and other negative effects. The guide says “Lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries contain a variety of chemicals. Improper disposal has significant consequences, such as environmental pollution and loss of (material) resources.” Their list of “don’ts” include:
Dispose of li-ion batteries with ‘regular’ wasteCrush, puncture, throw or do anything to the batteries that might result in damage to themAn effort to encourage youth to stop using vapor products and get rid of them was a perfect opportunity to also educate young people on how to properly dispose of these products. For years, Truth has talked about the litter and toxic waste caused by cigarette butts. Examples of their concern include coastal areas (Instagram), most littered item on Earth (Instagram), and cigarette butts will pollute the planet (YouTube).
The batteries in vapor products should be recycled, not thrown in the trash or tossed around as litter, or thrown into bodies of water. In recent years Truth has expressed concerns about the environmental impact of vapor product waste. On April 16, 2019 Truth Orange post a video on YouTube about vapor products creating toxic waste. Videos from October 24, 2019 #1and October 24, 2019 #2 made claims of environmental dangers of not properly disposing of vapor products. This shows that long before their “Ready to Ditch JUUL” campaign, they were aware that these products should be disposed of properly.
What is the reason Truth Initiative is ignoring the danger and environmental impact of mishandling vaping devices that contain these batteries? We do not know.Examples of participants in the Ditch JUUL Campaign
Below are examples of some of the videos we found from young people participating in this challenge, and some examples of why it’s dangerous to do these things to batteries.
Hitting a vape with a hammer video #1 and video #2. Dropping products in water and then smashing with gym weights. Hitting with a meat tenderizer and then flushing down the toilet. They are lucky it didn’t explode and catch fire, because this is what could have happened when those products were subjected to an impact.
In this video the participant drops the battery into a beaker of what appears to be baking soda and vinegar. According to Good Housekeeping, baking soda and vinegar should never be mixed. It can be explosive. We’ve also mentioned in a section above, the batteries shouldn’t be exposed to acidic chemicals. Vinegar is an acid.
This is the reaction that can happen when batteries are exposed to liquids. These are examples of young people throwing vapor products into bodies of water: here, here, and a swimming pool. This young person taped a vape to his chest and belly flopped into a pool. There are many more videos on TikTok of kids and young adults dropping a JUUL into water.
Dropping products into boiling water. Overheating batteries can cause thermal runaway as demonstrated in this video.
Exposing product to spray paint and dropping it into what looks like urine
Tossing it on the ground and smoking a cigarette instead. Here’s another one suggesting deadly smoking instead of vaping.Using cola and what looks like mentos candy with a vape to create exploding bottles of popPutting a vapor product in a tailpipe and shooting it out the exhaust with flames.There are a few videos on people improperly disposing of their devices by throwing them in the trash. Here is an example. Vape batteries should never be thrown in the trash because batteries that are damaged by a compactor truck may start a fire. Endangering the life of another by mistaking an asthma inhaler for a vape and throwing it in the trash. If it were a vapor product, it doesn’t belong in the trash because that’s not the proper way to dispose of batteries. “Normalizing” children using adult products (marketing to kids)
The Truth Initiative has a long history of expressing concerns over children seeing the use of tobacco or vapor products in their daily lives. From retail outlets, movies, video games, social media, and others using the products, they have sounded the alarm over the normalization of youth use of tobacco products. (Examples: 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2019)
The “Ditch JUUL” campaign shows young people around the world with a vapor product in their hand. In most locations, it is not legal for these children to have those products. This campaign not only normalizes children having these products, it normalizes disrespect for the law.
The Truth Initiative often shares images of cool, hip, young people using tobacco and vapor products. Isn’t this another form of marketing to kids? Isn’t the constant bombardment of images of cool young people using tobacco and vapor products a form of normalizing the use of these products? Here are a few examples: 12/2/19, 12/16/19, 12/21/19, 12/27/19, and 1/7/20. Wouldn’t our children be better served by not seeing images of people smoking or vaping? These concerns are being expressed by more than us
Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW - “I want to launch an account on TikTok to counter the #ThisIsQuitting HT by offering youth who want to quit strategies to recognize patterns, try moderation and reduction strategies, and avoid electrocuting themselves.”
Brad Rodu, Professor of Medicine at the University of Louisville, endowed chair in tobacco harm reduction research, and a member of the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at the U of L, has expressed concerns that our efforts to persuade children not to use adult products is in reality having the unintended consequence of marketing those products to our kids. Once example of his speaking out about these concerns is in this piece he wrote: "FDA Infographic on Teen Vaping: Hey Kids!".
Truth Initiative Promo Encourages Risky Teen Behavior by Jim McDonald from Vaping 360. Mr. McDonald covers several of the issues that are covered in this report. He said “Apparently no one at Truth Initiative thought about the potential consequences of promoting activities that might lead to battery cells rupturing and going into thermal runaway. That could happen when you jump on an e-cigarette, throw in on concrete, drag it behind a car, or fly it through the air with a hot-air balloon—all stunts depicted in Truth’s collection of TikTok videos.” He goes on to cover the issue of putting these batteries in water. “Submerging lithium batteries in water is also a bad idea. If the device was damaged (for example, by dragging it from a car, throwing it on concrete, or jumping on it), contact with water might create a short that could lead to a fiery explosion. It’s odd that Truth would ignore these risks, since the organization’s own website has a warning about vape explosions.”Conclusion
We agree with the facebook post by Vida News. It is time to STOP targeting our kids with ads that make them think “everyone is doing it”. It is not OK for manufacturers or retailers to show kids using adult products, and it shouldn’t be OK for the media or advocacy and health organizations to do so, either. It doesn’t matter WHO shows images of children using adult products in the eyes of a child, all they see is that kids are doing it and it motivates them to do it, too. We teach by example. Let’s make sure the example our children see does not involve children having adult products. This holds doubly true when it comes to encouraging our children to do something with those products that could endanger the health and well being of children and could result in injuries, death, environmental issues, explosions and fires.
Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!
January 22, 2020
Hybrid - Cole Denton
Title: Hybrid
Series: Sanguine #2Author: Cole DentonGenre: Dark/Paranormal/Suspense RomanceRelease Date: January 15, 2020
Blurb
Who am I? Everyone has their opinion of who I am.
The Queen thinks I'm her favorite pet. Lochlaan Mortas thinks I'm his biggest mistake. The Queen’s men think I'm their brother. The Carpe Noctem thinks I'm a useful tool.
Who do I think I am? Cast aside. Unwanted. Freak. Cursed. Full of sins.
But there are some things about me that I am certain of...
I am in love with Octavia, the Queen of Drishane. And my bastard father does not know what kind of vengeance I am about to bring down on him for the pain he has caused Octavia. He has no idea exactly what he allowed to live or what I am capable of.
But I do. Because I know who I am. I am unique...I am Hybrid.
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Cole Denton is an ocean lover who finds joy in almost all physical activities. He is especially passionate about baseball and surfing, indulging in them every chance he gets.
His other passion is writing. It began at a young age and followed him through to his time at a university in SoCal where he majored in screenwriting.
After moving to Sin City itself, Cole has put his knowledge and talent as a writer to work by pursuing a career as a dark fiction author. Cole is enjoying testing his kinky side, in pursuit of all things pleasurable.
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January 21, 2020
Descent - Natasha Knight
Title: DescentAuthor: Natasha KnightGenre: Dark Romance
Release Date: January 20, 2020
Blurb
Persephone Abbot is in my debt. Exactly the way I want it.
The sins of the father should not be inherited by the daughter. It’s unfair, I know, but since when has life been fair?
The events that brought us here began on Halloween night more than five years ago in that chapel ruin. I saved her that night. Carried her home through the storm that was the omen warning of what would come.
I didn’t know it then, but I do now.
Her father destroyed something precious. Someone innocent. I don’t believe in an eye for an eye. I won’t just balance the scales of justice, I’ll tip them so far in my favor his legacy will topple.
I’ll take that which is most precious. His daughter.
But I’m not the only monster lurking in the dark corners of her world. She’ll sleep in the bed of the beast, but I’ll keep her safe. Protect her fiercely.
And maybe I'll keep her.
Set in the Benedetti Mafia World, Descent is a brand-new Standalone Enemies-to-Lovers Romance.
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Teaser
Persephone will be sacrificed, but that can’t be helped. It’s fitting, actually. Almost poetic. An eye for an eye. A girl for a girl.
Author Bio
USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance, Natasha Knight specializes in dark, tortured heroes. Happily-Ever-Afters are almost always guaranteed, but she likes to put her characters through hell to get them there. She’s evil like that.
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January 20, 2020
Power Play - Kennedy L. Mitchell
Title: Power PlaySeries: Power Play #1 Author: Kennedy L. MitchellGenre: Romantic Suspense Release Date: January 20, 2020
Blurb
There’s no turning back. I can’t go home a failure—again. Everyone wants to use me, make me their pawn, but I have other plans. I will win this election or die trying.
Randi SawyerIt started with a shady business proposal I should’ve turned down. Now here I am pretending to be someone I’m not, and bonus, I’m at the mercy of a man whose joy comes from my failures. The deeper I sink into DC’s seedy political scene the more I realize I can’t trust anyone if I’m going to make it out alive. Until him. Secret Service agent Trey Benson is bitter, jaded, and oh so hot with his mischievous smirk and cocky attitude. He hates me, just like everyone else, but he might just be who I need to survive this mess I’ve landed myself in.
Trey BensonForced onto her protection detail, I’m certain she’s just another Political Barbie in this city. I should know—I’ve dated most of them. Except she’s not. Funny, foulmouthed and crazy as hell, not to mention drop-dead gorgeous, Randi Sawyer just might be the one person who can make a difference in DC—and in me. Too bad the boss says she’s off-limits, that it’s too risky for her career and mine. Good thing I’ve never been great at sticking to orders.
Power Play is the first book in the five book Power Play series. These cannot be read as standalones. All five books follow one main couple’s relationship as it grows through a five year time period. It’s suspenseful, steamy, and oh so unputdownable. If you’re a fan of Tiffany Snow, Brittany Sahin, and Skye Warren then this series is for YOU!
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Kennedy lives in Dallas with her husband, son, and 80lb Goldendoodle who still believes he's a lap dog. A bookworm at heart Kennedy loves to snuggle up in bed or by the campfire with an unputdownable book. She began writing two years ago with Falling for the Chance and has no plans of stopping. Her novels are witty, action-packed, and offer enough steam for a great facial. If you like strong heroines and sexy, tattooed men who can't keep their hands off them then this author is the one for you.
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