Stealing Dreams

Stealing Dreams PDF

Author: Mary Dodge

Publisher: UPNE

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 9781555535858

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When three whistle-blowers informed authorities and the media in 1995 that doctors at the prestigious and lucrative Center for Reproductive Health -- a fertility clinic operated by the University of California, Irvine (UCI) -- were taking eggs from some women and implanting them into others without donor consent, a scandal unfolded that ended careers, destroyed reputations, and forever altered the lives of many families. This first incident of egg and embryo theft, as well as claims of insurance fraud, research misconduct, and misappropriation of funds, grabbed headlines around the world and was featured on television programs from Primetime to The Oprah Winfrey Show. By the time the scandal had subsided several years later, two of the clinic's preeminent physicians had fled the country to avoid prosecution, one doctor was convicted on criminal charges in a highly controversial trial, and UCI had paid over twenty million dollars to settle laws suits filed by former patients. The full story behind the much-publicized case is unveiled for the first time in this riveting book. The authors untangle an intricate web of repeated cover-ups, scapegoats, evasions, self-interest, nastiness, and injustice. They scrutinize how a complex interplay of circumstances set the stage for wrongdoing at the clinic, reveal how the dramatic events were played out on both the public and legal battlefields, and examine the personal histories, motivations, and actions of the major players-the physicians, the whistle-blowers, the claimants, the lawyers, the various investigatory committees, the overzealous media, and UCI administrators. Stealing Dreams provides an absorbing, evenhanded look at the evolution of the fertility clinic scandal and illuminates the complex ethical, medical, and legal issues surrounding the largely unregulated field of reproductive medicine.

Thief of Dreams

Thief of Dreams PDF

Author: Bec McMaster

Publisher: Bec McMaster

Published: 2020-02-11

Total Pages: 125

ISBN-13: 1925491404

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Twenty prospective brides. One prince. Who will survive when the competition turns deadly? When Prince Keir of the Court of Dreams sends out a summons in search of a bride, the Wraith King sees a chance to steal the powerful Dragon's Heart. He sends his best thief, Zemira Az Ghul, to penetrate the court as one of the potential brides. All Zemira wants is freedom from the chains that bind her to the king, and if she finds the relic she'll have it. But the Court of Dreams is more dangerous than she ever expected, and Zemira must soon choose between her freedom—and her heart. Court of Dreams: - Fantasy Romance - Paranormal Romance - Fae Romance - Fae Prince - Fairy tale Romance

Who Stole the American Dream?

Who Stole the American Dream? PDF

Author: Hedrick Smith

Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks

Published: 2013-08-27

Total Pages: 626

ISBN-13: 0812982053

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Pulitzer Prize winner Hedrick Smith’s new book is an extraordinary achievement, an eye-opening account of how, over the past four decades, the American Dream has been dismantled and we became two Americas. In his bestselling The Russians, Smith took millions of readers inside the Soviet Union. In The Power Game, he took us inside Washington’s corridors of power. Now Smith takes us across America to show how seismic changes, sparked by a sequence of landmark political and economic decisions, have transformed America. As only a veteran reporter can, Smith fits the puzzle together, starting with Lewis Powell’s provocative memo that triggered a political rebellion that dramatically altered the landscape of power from then until today. This is a book full of surprises and revelations—the accidental beginnings of the 401(k) plan, with disastrous economic consequences for many; the major policy changes that began under Jimmy Carter; how the New Economy disrupted America’s engine of shared prosperity, the “virtuous circle” of growth, and how America lost the title of “Land of Opportunity.” Smith documents the transfer of $6 trillion in middle-class wealth from homeowners to banks even before the housing boom went bust, and how the U.S. policy tilt favoring the rich is stunting America’s economic growth. This book is essential reading for all of us who want to understand America today, or why average Americans are struggling to keep afloat. Smith reveals how pivotal laws and policies were altered while the public wasn’t looking, how Congress often ignores public opinion, why moderate politicians got shoved to the sidelines, and how Wall Street often wins politically by hiring over 1,400 former government officials as lobbyists. Smith talks to a wide range of people, telling the stories of Americans high and low. From political leaders such as Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, and Martin Luther King, Jr., to CEOs such as Al Dunlap, Bob Galvin, and Andy Grove, to heartland Middle Americans such as airline mechanic Pat O’Neill, software systems manager Kristine Serrano, small businessman John Terboss, and subcontractor Eliseo Guardado, Smith puts a human face on how middle-class America and the American Dream have been undermined. This magnificent work of history and reportage is filled with the penetrating insights, provocative discoveries, and the great empathy of a master journalist. Finally, Smith offers ideas for restoring America’s great promise and reclaiming the American Dream. Praise for Who Stole the American Dream? “[A] sweeping, authoritative examination of the last four decades of the American economic experience.”—The Huffington Post “Some fine work has been done in explaining the mess we’re in. . . . But no book goes to the headwaters with the precision, detail and accessibility of Smith.”—The Seattle Times “Sweeping in scope . . . [Smith] posits some steps that could alleviate the problems of the United States.”—USA Today “Brilliant . . . [a] remarkably comprehensive and coherent analysis of and prescriptions for America’s contemporary economic malaise.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Smith enlivens his narrative with portraits of the people caught up in events, humanizing complex subjects often rendered sterile in economic analysis. . . . The human face of the story is inseparable from the history.”—Reuters

The Circus of Stolen Dreams

The Circus of Stolen Dreams PDF

Author: Lorelei Savaryn

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2021-11-16

Total Pages: 321

ISBN-13: 0593202074

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A dream world turns haunting nightmare in this spellbinding debut novel, perfect for fans of Circus Mirandus and The Night Gardener. After Andrea's brother, Francis, disappeared, everything changed. Her world turned upside down, and there was nothing she could do to right it. So when she discovers a magical dream world called Reverie in the woods near her home, Andrea jumps at the chance to escape her pain and go inside. But the cost of admission is high: Andrea must give up a memory in order to enter. And she knows exactly which memory she'd like to give up. Once inside, Andrea discovers tent after tent of dreams come alive; she can fly on a gust of wind, brave swashbuckling pirates and search for buried treasure, reach for--and wish on--a tangible star, and much, much more. But Andrea soon realizes that not all of Reverie's dreams are meant to delight, and the Sandman behind the circus tents seems to have plans of his own. When Andrea finds a tent in which her brother's darkest nightmare has been brought to life, she realizes the dark truth: Reverie is not an escape; it's a trap. Will Andrea and her new friend Penny have what it takes to find Francis, figure out what's really going on in Reverie, and break free from this nightmarish dream world? A wonderfully inventive, deliciously creepy debut novel that is sure to linger in readers' minds long after the last thrilling page has been turned. Praise for The Circus of Stolen Dreams: * "Savaryn's unconventional story makes for a bewitching debut, filled with dazzling descriptions and real surprises." --Booklist, *STARRED REVIEW*

Success Kills

Success Kills PDF

Author: Wayde Goodall

Publisher: New Leaf Publishing Group

Published: 2009-03-01

Total Pages: 162

ISBN-13: 1614581096

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Success- we crave it, work for it, dream it, want it as a personal achievement, but how we each define it differs. Power, influence, wealth, fame, or a position of authority--the hallmarks of success we strive for can just as easily become the cause of our destruction, if we don't have a clear set of boundaries by which to live. Corporate and religious scandals of recent years have caused unprecedented havoc and heartache in the world's economy and in the church world. Executive and spiritual arrogance causes a toxic atmosphere in too many organizations. There are safeguards and principles we must focus on to ensure balance with excellence in what we do. Core questions to be considered include: Should your fear Success? Why do so many fail when they attain success? Is failure considered a friend of foe? Do you have a balanced ego or a pre-occupation with self? Take a discerning look at the concept of success in a personal, professional, and spiritual context in Success Kills. Explore the gift of adversity, finding a moral "north", learning from mistakes, and why some fear "successful" leaders. Discover a more important definition of success and the principles you can put in place today to achieve without compromising yourself or your future.

The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams

The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams PDF

Author: M.J. Rose

Publisher: Blue Box Press

Published: 2023-02-07

Total Pages: 207

ISBN-13: 1957568267

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A captivating tale of two passionate women separated by decades but united by a shared vision. One, the famous jeweler Suzanne Belperron, fighting to protect her company and rescue the man she loves. The other, a young auctioneer whose exceptional gifts reveal a secret that endangers her very life. “Only one thing saves you, and that is not losing sight of beauty.” Paris, 1942. Suzanne Belperron is known as one of the most innovative jewelers of her time. Elsa Schiaparelli and the Duchess of Windsor are just two of her many illustrious clients. What no one knows is that Suzanne and her dear friend, American socialite Dixie Osgood, have been helping transport hundreds of Jewish families out of France since the war began. But now, the war has come to Suzanne’s front door—the Nazis have arrested her business partner and longtime lover, Bernard Herz. New York, 1986. Violine Duplessi, an appraiser for a boutique auction house, is summoned to visit the home of Paul Osgood, a scholarly lawyer and political candidate who aspires to take over the Senate seat of his recently deceased father. Paul has inherited everything inside Osgood Manor, from the eighteenth-century furniture to the nineteenth-century Limoges china. But a vintage Louis Vuitton trunk is what calls to Violine, with the surprising but undeniable thrum of energy that can only be one thing: the gift passed down to her by La Lune, the sixteenth-century courtesan. Since childhood, Violine has been able to read an object’s history and learn the secrets of its owners by merely touching it, but she silenced her psychometry when it destroyed her last relationship. Why has it returned now? While inspecting the trunk, she senses it holds a hidden treasure and finds a hoard of precious jewels that provoke nightmarish visions and raise a multitude of questions. Who owned these pieces? Why were they hidden inside the trunk? Were they stolen? Could their discovery derail Paul’s campaign and their burgeoning attraction to each other? So begins a search that takes Violine to Paris to work with the Midas Society, a covert international organization whose mission is to return lost and stolen antiques, jewels, and artwork to their original owners. There, Violine will discover both her and Paul’s surprising connections to the trunk—and to Suzanne Belperron, who silently and heroically hid an amazing truth in plain sight. Told through Violine’s first-person account and Suzanne’s diary entries, The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams is a riveting story of magick, mystery, romance, and revenge. Inspired by the real-life legend Suzanne Belperron, it marks yet another masterpiece by New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author M.J. Rose. Reviews for The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams: “Take this magical ride. You won’t regret it! An absolute must-read!” ~ J.R. Ward, New York Times bestselling author “A dual storyline of past and not-exactly-present that had me tapping the right side of my Kindle into the wee hours of the night.” ~ Kristen Ashley, New York Times bestselling author “Rose infuses her writing with such beauty that it is nothing less than breathtaking. She doesn’t just give readers a story, she invites readers to embrace an experience.” ~ A Potpourri Of Opinions “This historical fiction was a beautiful story, in a time of turmoil for one character and a time of discovery for the other.” ~ For Love of Books

The Dream Thief

The Dream Thief PDF

Author: Shana Abé

Publisher: Bantam

Published: 2007-08-28

Total Pages: 369

ISBN-13: 0553588052

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In the remote hills of northern England lives a powerful clan with a centuries-old secret. They are the drákon, shape-shifters who possess the ability to Turn—changing from human to smoke to dragon. And from the very stones of the earth, they hear hypnotic songs of beauty and wonder. But there is one stone they fear.... Buried deep within the bowels of the Carpathian Mountains lies the legendary dreaming diamond known as Draumr, the only gem with the power to enslave the drákon. Since childhood, Lady Amalia Langford, daughter of the clan’s Alpha, has heard its haunting ballad but kept it secret, along with another rare Gift.... Lia can hear the future, much in the way she hears the call of Draumr. And in that future, she realizes that the diamond—along with the fate of the drákon—rests in the hands of a human man, one who straddles two worlds. Ruthlessly clever, Zane has risen through London’s criminal underworld to become its ruler. Once a street urchin saved by Lia’s mother, Zane is also privy to the secrets of the clan—and is the only human they trust to bring them Draumr. But he does nothing selflessly. Zane’s hunt for the gem takes him to Hungary, where he is shocked to encounter a bold, beautiful young noblewoman: Lia. She has broken every rule of the drákon to join him, driven by the urgent song of Draumr—and her visions of Zane. In one future, he is her ally. In another, her overlord. In both, he is her lover. Now, to protect her tribe, Lia must tie her fate to Zane’s, to the one man capable of stealing her future—and destroying her heart....

The Dream Thief

The Dream Thief PDF

Author: Gregory Petersen

Publisher: Morgan James Publishing

Published: 2020-02-04

Total Pages: 260

ISBN-13: 164279712X

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In The Dream Thief, Nadine Brier is certain of only two things: the voice she heard is real, and her friend needs her. Everything else is too overwhelming. This is not the first time Renee has called out in such a miraculous way. The last time—many years ago—had Nadine not acted quickly, Renee would have been killed. Now, decades removed from her magical early years, Nadine sets off on another adventure, and begins to drive from a small town in Missouri to New York City. During her adventure within The Dream Thief, she sees undeniable signs of her extraordinary childhood which tells her that either the wonder of the world she knew growing up was not imaginary, or she is losing her mind. Both possibilities terrify her.

The Dream Thieves

The Dream Thieves PDF

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic UK

Published: 2013-09-05

Total Pages: 361

ISBN-13: 1407139134

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This is the second book in a brand new series from bestselling author, Maggie Stiefvater. Fans of SHIVER (9781407115009), LINGER (9781407121086) and FOREVER (9781407121116) will love this new quartet!