#sm gaither

[fiveflatcutie]

Now Reading

Flame and Sparrow by S.M. Gaither

[authorlaurawinter]

6,8,15 please! :)

6. I snagged an arc of The Spirit Well by @ashen-crest and that’s been my favorite book this year so far!

8. I love both, but probably hardback simply because I can take it places without fear of getting the cover smushed and damaged in my bag. I never leave dust jackets on except when it’s on my shelf so I don’t stress about damage

15. I think it has to be The Song of the Marked by SM Gaither. The series sort of derailed a bit, but that first book inspired me and was kind of the “hey, I could do this. I could write a book like this. I want to write a book like this.” So I’d say that’s the one that changed my life in discovering romantasy and that the stories I wanted to tell and was too afraid to write had a place in the market.

🩷🩷 thank you!!

[ninelivesart]

Part 16 of Drawing my Reads was The Song of the Marked by SM Gaither

[ipoddymouth]

Wait speaking of books and the hunger games. 1. did you ever finish the new book? i remember you went to see the movie before having finished it (sjdkdjrk as did I) 2. what books are on your to read list? <3

EYE'M gonna be so honest not i did not finish that book 🫠 sittin in my kindle fighting for attention gjlrdgjaglj but i WILL finish it eventually; defs (i mean hopefully defs) before the next one comes out

and i have a million on my tbr if we're being honest bc i download like every rec people give me but eye'm currently reading some sm gaither book that i can't remember the name of. [i also read like 69432 million cheesy lil free amazon romances bc it keeps me SHARP and then really slow and dry historical texts bc i just dig that kinda stuff idk]

as far as current up nexts:

the final lisette marshall fae isles book (lowkey think im subconsciously saving this for a road trip this summer)

the second foxglove king book (even tho im not entirely sure i liked the first one)

'just for the summer' by christina lauren bc i like her books and feel like this one should be read in the actual summer

whatever the newest ali hazelwood book is (bc i've read them all)

either heavenbreaker/the stand-in/hate mail/or five broken blades depending on what kind of mood im in

And then to finish:

i don't really talk about it much on here but i LOVE comic books so i need to finish this massive miles morales set i have and then the rest of manifest destiny

'hook line and sinker' by tessa bailey but it's a phone book so idk (and by that i mean its a book i literally read on my phone bc its unserious and fast. so like what i do when i have 10 minutes to spare at the dentist and the wifi is too bad for socials lmao)

the rest of the shadow and bone series lmaooooooo i only read them when i'm at a v specific place despite them living in my house

idk which throne of glass book im on but i need to finish it......i probably won't but.......i should.............i know yall love those books but aelin.........girl i can't do it (and this is coming from me a bryce from cc enjoyer)

[lelagray]

I suppose I’ve never told this to you either. So listen very closely, now: Pain is not a competition. Everyone has their own battles. Their different hells. Different demons. And you don’t have to apologize for the things that hurt you, as I said, or for what you have to do to survive these things—not to me or to anyone else.”

A Twist of the Blade - S.M. Gaither

[robbiemeadow]

Fact Check: Does Pubic Hair Grooming Increase the Risk of Getting an STI?

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise, and many people are curious about the reasons why. While the cause is obviously multifactorial, some have suggested that at least part of the rise in STIs may be due to increasing rates of pubic hair grooming in men and women alike.

Given that it’s not uncommon for people to experience cuts and skin irritation from genital grooming practices, it at least sounds plausible in theory that pubic hair shaving could potentially increase infection risk. But what does the research actually say?

A widely circulated 2017 study of more than 7,500 adults published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections found that participants who reported having ever engaged in genital grooming were more likely to report having had an STI. Specifically, the odds of having an STI were 1.8 times greater for genital groomers on average. 

The odds were even higher for those who groomed frequently (i.e., daily or weekly) and those who usually removed all of their pubic hair. The STIs they were most likely to report were those that are passed via skin-to-skin contact, such as herpes, HPV, and syphilis. 

However, in a 2019 study published in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers found no statistical link between pubic hair grooming in general and STI risk—there was no link between “extreme” grooming and STIs, either. 

This study involved a much smaller sample and only focused on women, so it’s not directly comparable to the 2017 study in some respects; however, the fact that they point to inconsistent findings is important and suggests that further research is warranted to better understand what link, if any, exists here and whether it differs across different demographic groups.

Also, we need to be mindful of the fact that even if a link exists between pubic hair grooming and STIs, we can’t necessarily attribute cause and effect. For example, in the study discussed above that found a link, we don’t know whether grooming actually preceded STI contraction. Future studies therefore need to account for the issue of timing. 

Likewise, genital groomers may be different in various ways from non-groomers in their sexual practices. For example, some studies have found that groomers tend to be more sexually active and to have more sexual partners—so even if they do have a higher risk of STIs, it might have little to do with their genital grooming routine and more to do with other sexual behaviors.

With all of that said, the evidence isn’t there to suggest that the recent rise in STIs can be explained by changing pubic hair styles, or to suggest that pubic hair grooming is a significant risk to public health.  

That said, one known risk of pubic hair grooming is injury. In fact, one study found that an estimated 1,300 emergency room visits per year occur on average due to genital grooming injuries [3]. So if you opt to groom, take care down there!

Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology ? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on Facebook (facebook.com/psychologyofsex), Twitter (@JustinLehmiller), or Reddit (reddit.com/r/psychologyofsex) to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram.

[1] Osterberg, E. C., Gaither, T. W., Awad, M. A., Truesdale, M. D., Allen, I., Sutcliffe, S., & Breyer, B. N. (2017). Correlation between pubic hair grooming and STIs: results from a nationally representative probability sample. Sexually transmitted infections, 93(3), 162-166. 

[2] Luster, J., Turner, A. N., Henry Jr, J. P., & Gallo, M. F. (2019). Association between pubic hair grooming and prevalent sexually transmitted infection among female university students. PloS one, 14(9).

[3] Glass, A. S., Bagga, H. S., Tasian, G. E., Fisher, P. B., McCulloch, C. E., Blaschko, S. D., ... & Breyer, B. N. (2012). Pubic hair grooming injuries presenting to US emergency departments. Urology, 80(6), 1187-1191.

Image Source: 123RF/Zvonimir Mihaljek

You Might Also Like:

Infographic: Pubic Hair Removal Practices Of College Students

Sex Question Friday: How Many Men And Women Shave Their Pubic Hair?

from Meet Positives SM Feed 5 https://ift.tt/2zIXOZb via IFTTT

[ellenlucasonlinedatingblog]

Fact Check: Does Pubic Hair Grooming Increase the Risk of Getting an STI?

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise, and many people are curious about the reasons why. While the cause is obviously multifactorial, some have suggested that at least part of the rise in STIs may be due to increasing rates of pubic hair grooming in men and women alike.

Given that it’s not uncommon for people to experience cuts and skin irritation from genital grooming practices, it at least sounds plausible in theory that pubic hair shaving could potentially increase infection risk. But what does the research actually say?

A widely circulated 2017 study of more than 7,500 adults published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections found that participants who reported having ever engaged in genital grooming were more likely to report having had an STI. Specifically, the odds of having an STI were 1.8 times greater for genital groomers on average. 

The odds were even higher for those who groomed frequently (i.e., daily or weekly) and those who usually removed all of their pubic hair. The STIs they were most likely to report were those that are passed via skin-to-skin contact, such as herpes, HPV, and syphilis. 

However, in a 2019 study published in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers found no statistical link between pubic hair grooming in general and STI risk—there was no link between “extreme” grooming and STIs, either. 

This study involved a much smaller sample and only focused on women, so it’s not directly comparable to the 2017 study in some respects; however, the fact that they point to inconsistent findings is important and suggests that further research is warranted to better understand what link, if any, exists here and whether it differs across different demographic groups.

Also, we need to be mindful of the fact that even if a link exists between pubic hair grooming and STIs, we can’t necessarily attribute cause and effect. For example, in the study discussed above that found a link, we don’t know whether grooming actually preceded STI contraction. Future studies therefore need to account for the issue of timing. 

Likewise, genital groomers may be different in various ways from non-groomers in their sexual practices. For example, some studies have found that groomers tend to be more sexually active and to have more sexual partners—so even if they do have a higher risk of STIs, it might have little to do with their genital grooming routine and more to do with other sexual behaviors.

With all of that said, the evidence isn’t there to suggest that the recent rise in STIs can be explained by changing pubic hair styles, or to suggest that pubic hair grooming is a significant risk to public health.  

That said, one known risk of pubic hair grooming is injury. In fact, one study found that an estimated 1,300 emergency room visits per year occur on average due to genital grooming injuries [3]. So if you opt to groom, take care down there!

Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology ? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on Facebook (facebook.com/psychologyofsex), Twitter (@JustinLehmiller), or Reddit (reddit.com/r/psychologyofsex) to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram.

[1] Osterberg, E. C., Gaither, T. W., Awad, M. A., Truesdale, M. D., Allen, I., Sutcliffe, S., & Breyer, B. N. (2017). Correlation between pubic hair grooming and STIs: results from a nationally representative probability sample. Sexually transmitted infections, 93(3), 162-166. 

[2] Luster, J., Turner, A. N., Henry Jr, J. P., & Gallo, M. F. (2019). Association between pubic hair grooming and prevalent sexually transmitted infection among female university students. PloS one, 14(9).

[3] Glass, A. S., Bagga, H. S., Tasian, G. E., Fisher, P. B., McCulloch, C. E., Blaschko, S. D., ... & Breyer, B. N. (2012). Pubic hair grooming injuries presenting to US emergency departments. Urology, 80(6), 1187-1191.

Image Source: 123RF/Zvonimir Mihaljek

You Might Also Like:

Infographic: Pubic Hair Removal Practices Of College Students

Sex Question Friday: How Many Men And Women Shave Their Pubic Hair?

from MeetPositives SM Feed 4 https://ift.tt/2zIXOZb via IFTTT

[fiveflatcutie]

HOLY MACARONI I DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING

[fiveflatcutie]

i can also say the same thing with life—there’s a significant difference between making up or covering one’s mistakes as compared to keeping it all together

[fiveflatcutie]

i’m crying over this dedication 🥹

[authorlaurawinter]

What book are you reading right now?

What novel caused you the worst book hangover? 

How do you pick the next book you want to read? 

What is the book that changed or influenced you the most?

Currently reading: Her Dark Enchantments by Rosalyn Briar, beta read of my dad’s book, Dragon Queens by Kathleen de Plume, and Red white and royal blue by Casey McQuiston

Worst book hangover: Children of Fallen Gods by Carissa Broadbent

Picking next book: I’m a mood reader so it really depends. If my previous read was a bummer or not good, I’ll lean toward a reread or romance. If I’m on a high, I’ll lean toward fantasy, next in series, or a fantasy world I haven’t read yet

Book that changed / influenced me the most: tricky one. I loved Song of the Marked by SM Gaither because it kickstarted my love for reading again and got me curious about writing. SJM was also a big factor in my style

[authorlaurawinter]

7, 15, 35! Hope you're having a good day.

🩷🩷

7. I can’t even remember the last book I purchased. I think it was probably Crescent City 3 but it was also a preorder. I’m always on KU and Hoopla and don’t often buy unless I want a trophy for my favorite reads 🖤

15. I think it has to be The Song of the Marked by SM Gaither. The series sort of derailed a bit, but that first book inspired me and was kind of the “hey, I could do this. I could write a book like this. I want to write a book like this.” So I’d say that’s the one that changed my life in discovering romantasy and that the stories I wanted to tell and was too afraid to write had a place in the market.

35. An underrated book - the Villains and Virtues series by AK Caggiano, the memory puller by Kris k Haines, beneath black sails by Clare sager, and tbh I could list a million more

[authorlaurawinter]

𝐴 𝑇𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐵𝑙𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑆𝑀 𝐺𝑎𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

.

We pick up with Cas and Elander, though it threw me off slightly with Elander’s perspective in the first few chapters and then sporadically. As a fellow author, I understand the need for his chapters - it satisfies our itch to know more, allows us answers that we need to trust in the end to understand the stakes (because sometimes we couldn’t trust he wasn’t sharing the full story when he was in conversation with Cas), and it really makes us love him more. That was a tough challenge to accomplish while still making this feel like Cas’s story, but SM Gaither did it wonderfully.

.

In the end, we get answers - who is Cas? 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 is Cas? - and a delightful cliffhanger - because it’s done so perfectly that we can’t help but scream and sit on the edge of our seats and feel that clench in our souls as we wait to see what unfolds for Cas and Elander.

[authorlaurawinter]

Blurb and early reviews below. Find TCOBS on Amazon and Goodreads.

An assassin, a powerful dagger, and a magic that shouldn’t exist.

Shadow magic is extinct. The Veil Worshippers who honor the shadow god’s wall are hunted for their artifacts, including the Veil shards that break off the wall in Valisea.

Brela vows to steal it all back. With the dagger of her people and a Veil shard embedded in her collarbone that has infected her with shadow-cursed magic, she is determined to keep her secrets or suffer a fate worse than death. That was a lot easier when the uptight and infuriatingly handsome Captain Cason Valkip wasn’t hunting her.

Cason has spent his entire life hiding—from the raids on Valisea, from his emotions, and from his multiple gods-blessed magics that everyone is afraid of… everyone except Brela. The chaotic, non-magic wielding assassin who drives him insane is also the only person who has never looked at his tainted magic without any ounce of fear. Which is why being forced to work with her to discover the source of the breaking wall sets his already uncontrollable fire magic ablaze.

With tension growing in the remaining kingdoms and mythical beasts threatening her at every turn, Brela’s secrets might not remain hidden for much longer. To survive, she will have to work with the one man who could burn her.

Because if shadow hell is released, no one will be safe. For fans of Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series, Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone, and Shelby Mahurin's Serpent & Dove series. Dive into this epic, enemies to lovers fantasy with magic, found family, and knives. Lots and lots of knives. TW: This book contains explicit content and dark elements, including language, violence and torture, mature romantic scenes, and mentions of abuse.

First Reviews:

[lelagray]

“I am going to stab you,” she huffed. “And now I’m going to add ‘threats against the crown’ to your arrest documents.”

“Go ahead and add assault against the crown, too, as long as you’re adding things.”

The Song of the Marked - S.M. Gaither

[lelagray]

“But that’s the problem with loving deeply, isn’t it?” she asked her hands with a bitter little laugh. “It means you have to hurt deeply, too. And that hurt can twist you up in unexpected ways.”

A Twist of the Blade - S.M. Gaither