Download or read book The Hit Charade written by Tyler Gray and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2008-10-29 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Journalist Tyler Gray’s The Hit Charade is the true story of boy band manager Lou Pearlman’s epic rise and fall. Without Lou Pearlman, there would have been no Backstreet Boys, no *NSYNC, and possibly no Justin Timberlake. In the late 1990s, Pearlman’s boy bands ushered out guitar-and-angst-driven grunge music and began to dominate the television and radio airwaves. At the core of this squeaky-clean pop revolution was a sinister international fraud conceived by Pearlman, a huckster who first honed his crooked business skills as a teenage math nerd and blimp enthusiast in Flushing, Queens. From the mid 1980s through 2007, he cheated hundreds of investors out of nearly $500 million. When they finally caught on to him and demanded their money, the “Sixth Backstreet Boy” had already fled to Germany and then to Indonesia, where he was eventually nabbed by authorities and charged with a historic federal fraud. In The Hit Charade, Tyler Gray (the only journalist to speak with Pearlman while he was in jail) weaves together the fascinating behind-the-scenes story of the greedy desperation of this boy-band mogul and monumental scam artist. Gray unravels Pearlman’s twenty-year long Ponzi scheme and explores persistent rumors about alleged inappropriate behavior by Pearlman toward members of the boy bands and other young men. Along the way, former friends, family members, Pearlman business associates, and band members themselves reveal detailed accounts of everything from the heyday of their stardom to Pearlman’s more troubled times. “Lou Pearlman’s schemes were so outlandish they can’t possibly have been real. But Tyler Gray exposes him as one of the most sinister scam artists in history.” —Joe Levy

Download or read book The Song Machine Inside the Hit Factory written by John Seabrook and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2015-10-05 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "An utterly satisfying examination of the business of popular music." —Nathaniel Rich, The Atlantic There’s a reason today’s ubiquitous pop hits are so hard to ignore—they’re designed that way. The Song Machine goes behind the scenes to offer an insider’s look at the global hit factories manufacturing the songs that have everyone hooked. Full of vivid, unexpected characters—alongside industry heavy-hitters like Katy Perry, Rihanna, Max Martin, and Ester Dean—this fascinating journey into the strange world of pop music reveals how a new approach to crafting smash hits is transforming marketing, technology, and even listeners’ brains. You’ll never think about music the same way again. A Wall Street Journal Best Business Book

Download or read book Charade written by Sandra Brown and published by Grand Central Publishing. This book was released on 2013-04-30 with total page 301 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A TV star with a new lease on life must team up with an ex-cop to investigate a series of murders and dark secrets while danger lurks just outside her door in this thriller from award-winning author Sandra Brown. A medical miracle gives TV personality Cat Delaney more than a new heart. With her second chance at life Cat trades Hollywood for San Antonio, where she hosts a TV show for children with special needs and meets Alex Pierce, an ex-cop turned crime writer. But her new world turns sinister when fatal "accidents" begin killing other heart transplant recipients, and a mysterious stalker starts shadowing her every move. Soon Cat realizes Alex may or may not be her most important ally - and that her new heart comes at a terrible price: a tangled web of secrets and someone determined to take her life.

Download or read book The Chardonnay Charade written by Ellen Crosby and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2008-07-29 with total page 373 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Struggling to safeguard her vineyard from an unusual late-season freeze, Lucie Montgomery discovers the body of a controversial local politician near her fields, a case during which a friend is wrongfully accused and Lucie confronts her feelings for a fractious winemaker. By the author of The Merlot Murders. Reprint.

Download or read book The Dating Charade written by Melissa Ferguson and published by Thomas Nelson. This book was released on 2019-12-03 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cassie is fed up with online dating, but just when she’s finally decided to give up, firefighter Jett Bentley takes her on an amazing first date. But when they both go home and find three children dropped in their laps—each—they independently decide to do the right and mature thing: hide the kids from each other while sorting it all out. What could go wrong? Cassie Everson is an expert at escaping bad first dates. And, after years of meeting, greeting, and running from the men who try to woo her, Cassie is almost ready to retire her hopes for a husband—and children—altogether. But fate has other plans, and Cassie’s online dating profile catches the eye of firefighter Jett Bentley. In Jett’s memory, Cassie Everson is the unreachable girl-of-legend from their high school days. Nervously, he messages her, setting off a chain of events that forces a reluctant Cassie back into the dating game. No one is more surprised than Cassie when her first date with Jett is a knockout—but when Cassie finds herself caring for three sisters in an emergency foster placement, she decides to hide them from Jett to avoid scaring him off. When Jett’s sister’s addiction issues land her three children at his home, he decides the last thing Cassie needs to know about is his family drama. Neither dares to tell the other about their unexpected and possibly permanent family members for fear of scaring away their potential soulmate, especially since they both listed "no kids” on their profiles! With six children between them and secrets mounting, can Cassie and Jett find a way forward? Melissa Ferguson’s warmhearted debut reminds us that love can come in very small packages—and that sometimes our best-laid plans aren’t nearly as rewarding and fun as the surprises that come our way. Praise for The Dating Charade: “Melissa Ferguson is a sparkling new voice in contemporary rom-com. Though her novel tackles meaningful struggles—social work, child abandonment, adoption—it’s also fresh, flirty, and laugh-out-loud funny. Ferguson is going to win fans with this one!”—Lauren Denton, bestselling author of The Hideaway and Glory Road “The Dating Charade will keep you smiling the entire read. Ferguson not only delights us with new love, with all its attendant mishaps and misunderstandings, but she takes us deeper in the hearts and minds of vulnerable children as Cassie and Jett work out their families—then their dating lives. An absolute treat!”—Katherine Reay, bestselling author of The Printed Letter Bookshop Stand-alone contemporary romance Full-length novel (76,000 words) Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Download or read book Charade written by Gilbert Morris and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2005 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A beautiful woman. A savage betrayal. The perfect payback but is revenge enough? Ollie is about to come face-to-face with the power of true, unconditional love. It could change Ollie's life or end it.

Download or read book The Sonic Boom written by Joel Beckerman and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 2014 with total page 213 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A guide to the effective use of sound in marketing, revealing the surprising ways sound can influence our emotions, opinions, and preferences

Download or read book The Great Charade written by Gerri Hill and published by Bella Books. This book was released on 2021-12-01 with total page 277 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abby Carpenter is in a tailspin knowing she is about to spend ten days in the company of her ex-girlfriend—who is now engaged to her brother—for a family holiday gathering in Red River, New Mexico. The same ex-girlfriend who last year at Christmas had lured her into bed. Abby’s solution? A pretend girlfriend for the holidays would surely keep her ex away and in her own room at night, right? Nic Bennett’s life has been far from ideal and Christmas is her most dreaded holiday of all as she relives horrors from the past. When an attractive stranger approaches her with the offer of a chance to get away for ten days, she agrees. But with a counteroffer that brings both anxiety and excitement to the desperate Abby. Among the holiday lights and snow-covered grandeur, the lines between pretend and reality blur as the two women have the time of their lives. Soon Abby learns it isn’t her ex she can’t resist. And Nic learns what it means to be part of a family for Christmas.

Download or read book Dervish Dust written by Robyn L. Coburn and published by U of Nebraska Press. This book was released on 2021-12 with total page 498 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dervish Dust is the authorized biography of "cool cat" actor James Coburn, covering his career, romances, friendships, and spirituality. Thoroughly researched with unparalleled access to Coburn's friends and family, the book's foundation is his own words in the form of letters, poetry, journals, interviews, and his previously unpublished memoirs, recorded in the months before his passing. Dervish Dust details the life of a Hollywood legend that spanned huge changes in the entertainment and filmmaking industry. Coburn grew up in Compton after his family moved from Nebraska to California during the Great Depression. His acting career began with guest character roles in popular TV series such as The Twilight Zone, Bonanza, and Rawhide. In the 1960s Coburn was cast in supporting roles in such great pictures as The Magnificent Seven, Charade, and The Great Escape, and he became a leading man with the hit Our Man Flint. In 1999 Coburn won an Academy Award for his performance in Affliction. Younger viewers will recognize him as the voice of Henry Waternoose, the cranky boss in Monsters, Inc., and as Thunder Jack in Snow Dogs. An individualist and deeply thoughtful actor, Coburn speaks candidly about acting, show business, people he liked, and people he didn't, with many behind-the-scenes stories from his work, including beloved classics, intellectually challenging pieces, and less well-known projects. His films helped dismantle the notorious Production Code and usher in today's ratings system. Known for drum circles, playing the gong, and participating in LSD research, Coburn was New Age before it had a name. He brought his motto, Go Bravely On, with him each time he arrived on the set in the final years of his life, when he did some of his best work, garnering the admiration of a whole new generation of fans.

Download or read book Alanna written by Tamora Pierce and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2009-12-08 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A girl disguises herself as a boy to train as a knight in this first book in Tamora Pierce’s Margaret A. Edwards Award–winning young adult series—now with a new look! From now on, I’m Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I’ll be a knight. In a time when girls are forbidden to be warriors, Alanna of Trebond wants nothing more than to be a knight of the realm of Tortall. So she finds a way to switch places with her twin brother, Thom, and, disguised as a boy, begins her training as a page at the palace of King Roald. But the road to knighthood, as she discovers, is not an easy one. Alanna must master weapons, combat, and magic, as well as polite behavior, her temper, and even her own heart. So begin Alanna’s adventures—filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil—that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and make her a legend in the land.

Download or read book The Charade written by Laura Lee Guhrke and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2010-11-23 with total page 452 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Honor, freedom, liberty...those were mere words to Katie Armstrong, a savvy thief and indentured servant on the run in colonial Boston. For the sake of survival, she agreed to a British lord's bribe: unmask the identity of the patriot known as John Smith, or be returned to her brutal master. But soon the cagey John Smith was making the same threat -- unless she spied for him. Katie planned to play both men against each other...until, masquerading as Smith's mistress, she lost her heart to the seductive stranger she had set out to undo. Ethan Harding's steely heart was ready to risk anything to end British tyranny -- even if it meant taking on the false identity of John Smith, putting his own life in jeopardy, or blackmailing a beautiful and terrified young woman. And if that woman's angelic face made other men spill their secrets, so much the better. But now, Katie Armstrong's charms were about to betray his heart and his cause -- and his desire for the elusive temptress would turn the tables on everyone and everything he had pledged to protect.

Download or read book Winners Take All written by Anand Giridharadas and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2019-10-01 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The groundbreaking investigation of how the global elite's efforts to "change the world" preserve the status quo and obscure their role in causing the problems they later seek to solve. An essential read for understanding some of the egregious abuses of power that dominate today’s news. "Impassioned.... Entertaining reading.” —The Washington Post Anand Giridharadas takes us into the inner sanctums of a new gilded age, where the rich and powerful fight for equality and justice any way they can—except ways that threaten the social order and their position atop it. They rebrand themselves as saviors of the poor; they lavishly reward “thought leaders” who redefine “change” in ways that preserve the status quo; and they constantly seek to do more good, but never less harm. Giridharadas asks hard questions: Why, for example, should our gravest problems be solved by the unelected upper crust instead of the public institutions it erodes by lobbying and dodging taxes? His groundbreaking investigation has already forced a great, sorely needed reckoning among the world’s wealthiest and those they hover above, and it points toward an answer: Rather than rely on scraps from the winners, we must take on the grueling democratic work of building more robust, egalitarian institutions and truly changing the world—a call to action for elites and everyday citizens alike.

Download or read book The Hit written by Lexy Timms and published by . This book was released on with total page 263 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: If the plan doesn't work, change the plan but never the goal. Owen King is a hitman with a conscience. He only takes jobs that eliminate the worst of the worst of the human population. When he gets a request to take out a gorgeous young woman from a notorious drug dealer with ties to the cartel, something doesn't feel right. The dealer claims Steph Baker is a spy with knowledge of Owen's business aren't adding up. Owen digs into her background and gets to know her better. Unspoken Rule of the Game: never fall for the woman you're supposed to kill. Owen knows time is running out and if he doesn't finish the job, someone else will. Billionaire Hitman Series: Book 1 – The Hit Book 2 – The Job Book 3 – The Run Search Terms: Enemies to Lovers, mafia romance, romantic suspense, dark romance, sexy hero, hot and steamy, romance, stockholm syndrome, ageless romance, Scottish romance, outlander, sexy, sport romance, hired wife, fake girlfriend, happily ever after, sweet love story, bully romance academy romance, coming of age romance, bully romance dark romance, bully romance college, bully romance reverse harem, new adult romance, contemporary romance

Download or read book Charade written by Nyrae Dawn and published by Headline Eternal. This book was released on 2013 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nineteen-year-old Cheyenne tries to portray the perfect life to mask the memories of her past. Walking in on her boyfriend with another woman in her freshman year in college threatens that picture of perfection. Twenty-one-year-old Colt never wanted college and never expected to amount to anything, but when his mom's dying wish is for him to get his degree, he has no choice but to pretend it's what he wants too. Cheyenne needs a fake boyfriend to get back at her ex and Colt needs cash to take care of his mom, so they strike a deal that helps them both. But what if Cheyenne's past isn't what she thought? Soon they're trading one charade for another - losing themselves in each other to forget about their pain. The more they play their game, the more it becomes the only thing they have that feels real. Both Cheyenne and Colt know life is never easy, but neither of them expect the tragedy that threatens to end their charade and rip them apart for ever.

Download or read book The Nightmare Charade written by Mindee Arnett and published by Macmillan + ORM. This book was released on 2015-08-04 with total page 319 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 16-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she's a criminal. No, she's a Nightmare. Literally. Dusty is a magical being who feeds on human dreams. Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother's infamy is hard enough, not to mention the crazy events of the past year. Dusty may have saved the day, but there are many days left in the year, and with an old foe back to seek revenge, she'll need all her strength to defeat him and save her friends. Mindee Arnett thrills again in The Nightmare Charade, the stunning final installment in the Arkwell Academy series. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Download or read book The Harlem Charade written by Natasha Tarpley and published by Scholastic Inc.. This book was released on 2017-01-31 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fans of Chasing Vermeer will love this clever mystery about art, artifice, and the power of community. WATCHER. SHADOW. FUGITIVE.Harlem is home to all kinds of kids. Jin sees life passing her by from the window of her family's bodega. Alex wants to help the needy one shelter at a time, but can't tell anyone who she really is. Elvin's living on Harlem's cold, lonely streets, surviving on his own after his grandfather was mysteriously attacked.When these three strangers join forces to find out what happened to Elvin's grandfather, their digging leads them to an enigmatic artist whose missing masterpieces are worth a fortune-one that might save the neighborhood from development by an ambitious politician who wants to turn it into Harlem World, a ludicrous historic theme park. But if they don't find the paintings soon, nothing in their beloved neighborhood will ever be the same . . .In this remarkable tale of daring and danger, debut novelist Natasha Tarpley explores the way a community defines itself, the power of art to show truth, and what it really means to be home.

Download or read book Made in Sweden written by Alf Björnberg and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-12-08 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Made in Sweden: Studies in Popular Music serves as a comprehensive and rigorous introduction to the history, sociology and musicology of twentieth-century Swedish popular music. The volume consists of essays by leading scholars of Swedish popular music and covers the major figures, styles and social contexts of pop music in Swedish. Although the vast majority of the contributors are Swedish, the essays are expressly written for an international English-speaking audience. No knowledge of Swedish music or culture will be assumed. Each essay provides adequate context so readers understand why the figure or genre under discussion is of lasting significance to Swedish popular music; each section features a brief introduction by the volume editors. The book presents a general description of the history and background of Swedish popular music, followed by essays that are organized into thematic sections: The Historical Development of the Swedish Popular-Music Mainstream; The Swedishness of Swedish Popular-Music Genres; Professionalization and Diversification; and Swedish Artist Personas. Contributors: Jonas Bjälesjö Alf Björnberg Thomas Bossius Peter Dahlén Olle Edström Karin L. Eriksson Rasmus Fleischer Sverker Hyltén-Cavallius Lars Lilliestam Ulf Lindberg Morten Michelsen Susanna Nordström Marita Rhedin Henrik Smith-Sivertsen Ann Werner Kajsa Widegren