Tap Out

When Darwin's father went to prison for assault, his mom decided it was time to move him from his inner-city school to the elite Norfolk Academy. It was supposed to be a brand-new start for him. But old instincts die hard, and Dar is used to fighting for everything.
   Convinced by a new friend to take part in an illegal fight club, Dar starts competing in no-holds-barred matches between students. He quickly rises to become the best in the ring. When one match goes too far and a student is almost killed, Dar faces a choice. Everyone tells him he's a fighter, but he needs to decide for himself--who is he, and what is he fighting for?

Seventeen-year-old Tony Antioch lives in Pleasant Meadows, a trailer park where questions aren't asked since everyone already knows the answers from their own experience. He dreams of rescuing his mother from her constant stream of abusive boyfriends but in reality can barely duck the punches that are aimed at himself. When Tony is coerced into joining his friend Rob's Mixed Martial Arts class, he is surprised to find that he has a talent that he actually wants to develop. But with a meth-dealing biker gang that is hungry for recruits and a vicious cycle of poverty and violence that precedes him, Tony is going to need a lot more than blood and guts to find a way out. Gritty, powerful, and unapologetic, Tap Out explores what it takes to stay true to oneself and the consequences of the choices made along the way in order to do so.

A fierce debut collection from NEA and Stegner fellow Edgar Kunz--spare and intimate narrative poems that sprawl between oxys and Bitcoin, crossing the country restlessly as they struggle to reconcile a troubled young adulthood with the working poor New England of his youth

What would you do if you came face-to-face with your celebrity crush?Rocky Steele is surrounded by professional athletes.It's her job. As a physical therapist in a world renowned gym, she works with the best of the best, from hockey players to MMA fighters. Celebrity status does not impress her. Nor do big, strong men in peak physical condition. Nope. When it comes to her job, she's one hundred percent professional.Enter Gage James. Her celebrity crush. And the newest fighter to train in her gym. Where it will be her job to put her hands on every inch of the six foot seven two hundred and sixty pounds of utter Alpha male perfection. She's got this....Maybe. Gage 'The Kraken' James is the reigning MMA Heavyweight Champion.When he walks into The Steele Maker for the first time, it's like he's hit with a one-two punch to the chest in the form of a certain raven haired firecracker. His coach's daughter. His physical therapist. His every waking thought.He's in for the fight of his life. The stakes are higher... outside the octagon.Time to release The Kraken.GAME ON.

Book two of Worth the Fight Late-night shock jock Sophie Morelle has been fired, dumped by her network after an embarrassing incident cost them big bucks. But she knows just how to get back on her feet—by filming a raw, gritty documentary about MMA fighters, starring the hottest welterweight around. The only problem? He's the one responsible for ruining her life. MMA-champion-turned-model Caden Kelly is hell-bent on reestablishing himself as the best fighter in the country. He'd been on a roll, too, until that loudmouth reporter hit him in the head with a camera on national TV. The headaches he's suffered since are nothing compared to the one he gets when she shows up, seeking an exclusive. That Sophie's gorgeous is undeniable…but she's also the most infuriating woman he's ever met. Stepping into the ring with Caden Kelly is not for the faint of heart, but Sophie's never been the delicate type. This champion may have finally met his match—both in and out of the bedroom. Don't miss Knock Out, available now!

History brought them together. Circumstances may keep them apart. Alyson Blake’s past left her with scars. Scars that she tried to fix the only way she knew how—by helping others. But actions have consequences, and Alyson is about to find out that being naïve is no excuse. Fighting is Jamison Weston’s passion. Alyson is his obsession. Despite the past and a few lingering concerns, their relationship is as solid as ever. Until a shocking lie is uncovered and all of his plans begin to unravel. Now, Jami is rushing to pick up the pieces, but as relationships are put to the test, will he be strong enough to keep it together, or will it all just fall apart?

Learn how to make your opponent tap out in virtually any situation! This guide is packed with hundreds of armlocks, chokes and leglocks that you can use to make any opponent tap out. This book offers hardcore, serious, practical instruction on submitting an opponent in a wide variety of grappling and fighting situations. Whether you are a submission grappler, judo or jujitsu athlete or MMA fighter, you will learn armlocks, chokes and leglocks from start to finish in both "no gi" and "gi" situations. Plus you will get variations, alternate finishes and escapes so no matter what your opponent throws at you, you will be ready. Steve Scott shares the same training tips, technical expertise and tactical advice that he has used to train over 200 national and international champions in grappling sports. This book is like having your own world-class coach with you every time you step on the mat. The book is divided into 3 massive sections: SECTION ONE: ARMLOCKS -- This section features the four primary armlocks including the cross-body armlock, the bent armlock, the armpit lock and the straight armlock. In some cases, shoulder joint locks are also shown when relevant to an armlock. There are many breakdowns, set ups, variations, combination techniques and applications of armlocks in this section. SECTION TWO: CHOKES & STRANGLES -- This section emphasises strangles and chokes aimed directed against the carotid arteries on the sides of the neck as well as against the trachea (windpipe) and front of the check and throat. In some cases, neck cranks and shoulder locks are also shown when relevant to a choking technique. A wide variety of ways to break down an opponent, roll an opponent into a choke, flatten out an opponent for a choke or apply chokes from a variety of positions. SECTION THREE: LEGLOCKS -- This section includes all submission techniques directed toward the lower body, including the ankles, knees, legs and hips. A large number of toeholds and ankle locks are featured. Both straight and bent knee leglocks are shown in this section as well.

Love scores a knockout blow… MMA fighter Henry Lorenz relies on discipline and strength to get through life. With his former mentor’s boxing gym now in his hands, Henry has his hands full training a troubled teen who reminds him of himself at that age. Until a stubborn but beautiful woman intervenes, turning Henry’s life upside down. Now, he’s determined to prove to her that there’s more to fighting than knowing how to throw a punch. Maggie Kavanaugh is devoted to protecting kids from the violence of the streets. She wants them to use their brains, not their fists, to get ahead in life. When she learns one of her most talented teens is training at Henry’s gym, Maggie doesn’t approve. She’ll let the training continue, but she’s going to be watching every step of the way. And that means watching the gruff but smoking hot Henry as well… When a dark moment from Henry’s past threatens to come between them, he’s torn. Should he keep his secret bottled up inside? Or can he give love a fighting chance?

Being a fighter is in my blood. My grandfather was a fighter, my father was a fighter, and I'm a fighter. I live for the rush of adrenaline and sensation of victory. When I fight, I give it my all. I step into the octagon and I fight until there's nothing left to fight for. He's been my best friend for most of my life. I've fought with him, fought against him, and for the longest time I fought for him, for us. Until he pushed me away, leaving me no choice but to tap-out. *** Fighting is what saved me. It shed the old me and I became a newer shinier version of myself. Until it took away everything I loved. I gave up and tapped out. Then one day, she came back into my life and reminded me that some things in life are worth fighting for. Now I'm fighting for us, day by day, proving to her that our happily ever after is worth fighting for.

How the smartphone can become a personal concierge (not a stalker) in the mobile marketing revolution of smarter companies, value-seeking consumers, and curated offers. Consumers create a data trail by tapping their phones; businesses can tap into this trail to harness the power of the more than three trillion dollar mobile economy. According to Anindya Ghose, a global authority on the mobile economy, this two-way exchange can benefit both customers and businesses. In Tap, Ghose welcomes us to the mobile economy of smartphones, smarter companies, and value-seeking consumers. Drawing on his extensive research in the United States, Europe, and Asia, and on a variety of real-world examples from companies including Alibaba, China Mobile, Coke, Facebook, SK Telecom, Telefónica, and Travelocity, Ghose describes some intriguingly contradictory consumer behavior: people seek spontaneity, but they are predictable; they find advertising annoying, but they fear missing out; they value their privacy, but they increasingly use personal data as currency. When mobile advertising is done well, Ghose argues, the smartphone plays the role of a personal concierge—a butler, not a stalker. Ghose identifies nine forces that shape consumer behavior, including time, crowdedness, trajectory, and weather, and he examines these how these forces operate, separately and in combination. With Tap, he highlights the true influence mobile wields over shoppers, the behavioral and economic motivations behind that influence, and the lucrative opportunities it represents. In a world of artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, wearable technologies, smart homes, and the Internet of Things, the future of the mobile economy seems limitless.