This book a collection of stories on the lives of HIV carriers was inspired by a taxi driver who once told the author that if he knew one percent of what people infected with HIV go through, he would have done all within his power to avoid being infected

Sixteen chapters of erotic adventure that will get your heart pounding and your juices flowing, regardless of whether you are a man or woman. Relish stories of a doctor with a flair for treating headaches, a computer repairman that takes care of both your hardware and your software, a massage therapist with a hidden agenda, and a nurse that makes house calls. And if that isn't enough, have an adventure at the movies, get a whole new perspective on painless dentistry, or ride the swing in the park. A wide variety of stories that will get you aroused, make you think, cause you to well up with tears, and still have you coming back for more again and again.

View the Table of Contents. Read the Introduction.

aThe first book to date to take an in-depth look at the meaning men and women ascribe to their first experiences with sexual intercourse....This body of research appears to be promising and will likely add much information to literature in the area of sexual behavior.a
&$151;"Sex Roles"

"Well written and engaging, Virginity Lost is an extremely valuable contribution, giving us in depth and moving descriptions of how first sexual experiences changed men's and women's lives and capturing interesting comparisons of both heterosexual and homosexual relationships and encounters. Laura Carpenter assumes nothing, and therefore, learns a great deal. Reading this book has changed the way I look at first intercourse. I am in the author's debt, as is, I believe, the entire field of sexology."
--Pepper Schwartz, author of "Everything You Know about Love and Sex Is Wrong"

"A provocative book. Carpenter's extensive in-depth research shows that the meaning of virginity loss differs by gender and by sexual orientation. For the details, read this excellent book!"
--Judith Lorber, author of "Paradoxes of Gender"

"Laura Carpenter has added hugely to our impoverished understanding of how young people manage the transition from virginity. Her lively and graceful account of virginity loss enriches our knowledge of sexual development."--Frank Furstenberg, author of "Teenage Sexuality, Pregnancy, and Childbearing"

"I've read many books in the field of sexuality, and I must say that this is one of the best I've come across. . . . A joy to read."
--Denise Donnelly, co-editor of "Sex Matters: The Sexuality and Society Reader"

aThis is agreat book. It is well researched, grounded in compelling personal stories from 61 diverse young Americans, and accessibly written...Carpenter nicely grounds her analysis in sociocultural context, considering wider social reasons for shifting attitudes toward virginity loss and adeptly attending to the intersecting identifications of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality.a
"Choice," Highly recommended

Nervous, inexperienced, confused. For most, losing your virginity is one of life's most significant moments, always to be remembered. Of course, experiences vary, but Laura Carpenter asks: Is there an ideal way to lose it? What would constitute a "positive" experience? What often compels the big step? And, further, what does "going all the way" really mean for young gays and lesbians?

In this first comprehensive study of virginity loss, Carpenter teases out the complexities of all things virgin by drawing on interviews with both young men and women who are straight, gay or bisexual. Virginity Lost offers a rare window into one of life's most intimate and significant sexual moments. The stories here are frank, poignant and fascinating as Carpenter presents an array of experiences that run the gamut from triumphant to devastating.

Importantly, Carpenter argues that one's experience of virginity loss can have a powerful impact on one's later sexual experiences. Especially at a time of increased debate about sexual abstinence versus safe sex education in public schools, this important volume will provide essential information about the sex lives of young people.

"Many times I thought I couldn't live with you. "And many times I know I can't live without you." Among a myriad of books about love and relationships, you will not find another quite like 'C'. A story "for Couples coming and going," 'C' brings wit and wisdom, anecdotes and observations from a writer who has truly lived it ... in ways that frequently mirror our own. With a lively, unique and refreshing blend of narrative, musical lyrics and quotable quotes, 'C' takes us on a journey through the phases of Coupling, from "Finding your 'C'-Mate," to "Un-Coupling" and even "Post-Couple Coupling." While being a couple is, in many ways, rather simple (put two people together and - ka-boom - you have a couple), a multitude of factors can enhance, aggravate or even detour the relationship. 'C' draws on the author's life 'n times with "special colleagues" to give us a highly perceptive view of what happens at various stages in relationships, while offering actionable ideas that help make Coupling more fun. Sometimes funny, heartwarming or even heartbreaking, 'C' makes no pretenses about being more than its title implies. Whether you're a 20-something, a mid-lifer or older ... currently Coupling, Un-Coupling or at stages in-between ... 'C' can help smooth out "speed bumps" on the highway to forever, and make your Couple-times more meaningful, more enjoyable. Perhaps because, in many ways, 'C' is every reader's story, too.

The author of the best-selling Harrad Experiment issues a powerful call to change morality, education, and our attitudes about sex. He urges that the real root of America's sexual problems -- teen pregnancy, high divorce rates, and the spread of AIDS -- is sheer ignorance, which can only be overcome by instilling in young people new attitudes of caring and respect. In this provocative, entertaining, and thoughtful book Rimmer analyzes our nationwide sexual malaise and prescribes some radical solutions.

MASTECTOMY was written to husbands, family members, friends, associates, and medical professionals who care deeply about women living through and after the devastation of mastectomy. Seven young mothers openly disclose personal information about their bodies, their sexual behaviors, and their innermost hopes and fears. You will be amazed at how these women struggled to regain a sense of autonomy after realizing that they were no longer in control of their own bodies. A common thread weaves through all of the stories - these courageous women willed to live a full life despite their ordeals. By reading their stories about how they took charge of their lives and journeyed from devastation to resilience, I know you will be better prepared for the mastectomy experience as a patient, a doctor, a caregiver, a friend, or a family member. As you read about life after breast cancer, you will realize the need to listen to their fears, concerns, and discussions of their options. Above all, they need to know that you are there with them. A line from an old movie goes something like this: "Do you know what was worse than going to the dark side of the moon? It was going there alone." When confronted with the devastating discovery of breast cancer, every woman needs information about her options. But even more, she needs to hear: "You are no less a woman. You are not in this alone - I am here with you." The book illuminates the world of mastectomy patients through their innermost thoughts, allowing the reader to feel their devastation and marvel at the ways they created resilience.

This ground-breaking book explores the experiences of gay men and their understanding of what it meant to be gay in the 20th Century: from when homosexuality was illegal through the less repressed but no less difficult eras of gay liberation and the HIV-AIDS epidemic.

In a perfect world, your man would tell you that he wants you to be a lady in public and a FREAK in the bedroom...Well the world may never be perfect, however ladies, all you may have to do is take some of the advice given in this book, and your man will be a happy camper Toye Cook, MSN, RN, a. k. a. Miss Toye takes us on an exploration and examination of relationships through the eyes of a professional woman, single mother, and lover, all integrated elements of her self. A combination of professional observation, personal experiences with the men in her life, and stories of triumph in getting men to be honest while not becoming another basher make for a refreshing, entertaining, yet enlightening essay. Hers is a reality approach, asking the tough questions and providing some useful yet practical answers, that help lead us to finding the power within to create and enjoy the healthy relationships which we all desire. WARNING This book contains sexual content that may be offensive to some readers.