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Under the show's set-up, twelve contestants had competed in four teams. The crew awarded marks based on skill and neatness, with team members pooling their numbers to win privileges like movie nights or dinners in the officers' mess. Every Monday, a low-scoring contestant walked the plank and went home on a rendezvous ship. Cassidy had lasted until the final cut.

Cassidy Novak was one of the contestants on the reality show Sink or Swim. She didn't like losing at anything, especially when there was a million dollars at stake. But lose she did coming in at second place. Her dream of opening a chain of gyms with her as the fitness instructor has come to an end. The only thing she can do now is go to her dull life in Garrett and hopefully make enough money to pay her bills. But... life was to never be the same again.

As with all the cast members, Cassidy had received her share of fan mail. There were those from her admirers and even a gift here and there. Then she spotted the Raggedy Ann doll, just like the one her father had given her before he ran away from Cassidy and her mother never to be heard from again. And then came the 'love' letters expressing the love and devotion of someone who signed everything with the name Miles. As time goes on, Miles becomes more than a want-to-be lover. He becomes her stalker.

This book has several twists and turns. As Cassidy received a hint as to who this person might be I started believing she might be right. All of her suspects had the perfect opportunity and reasons but which one was it? I was surprised to the end!

This is a very enjoyable book to read. I found myself wanting to read 'just one more page' before going to bed. Can't wait to read more by this author.

Gaele

AudioBook Review: Stars: Overall 4 Narration 4 Story 5

Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2013

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I'm not a huge reality television watcher, but the premise of a daredevil-styled show as the introduction and backdrop for the murder victims is intriguing. Cassidy is the runner-up, second place for the prize that would have allowed her to pay off some debts and start her own new business.

An interesting character, Stacy Juba gives us the initial sense that Cassidy is rather calculated and forward thinking: dying the hair, practicing a smile in the mirror, working on `comeback lines' in the hopes they will be quoted around the water cooler. In itself, this isn't a bad thing, but setting her up as calculated, then having her react in near complete contradiction to that early character: hot-headed, impulsive and often unreasonable, while I could understand her determination to be independent and self-reliant in lieu of the threat, there was something missing that made her likeable in any way more than any other cast member of a reality show.

But what saves the story is the mystery and the tension created as her cast mates start disappearing, the difficulties encountered with being a `celebrity', the questions about the real intentions of her love interest, Zach and all of the daily stressors of life that don't include a crazed stalker with murderous intent. Full of tension, twists and some really clever perspective on the reality television and celebrity culture as a whole, the story swiftly moves through potential suspects with a pace that keeps readers on the edge.

Narration is provided by Funda Duval, initially I wasn't a fan of the pairing as early on narration felt tentative and there is an accent that came through quite strongly early in the story that didn't fit with my vision of Cassidy. However, as the `newness' of the story and voice became more familiar, Duval's narration managed to perfectly capture both tension and assumed voices for characters, that didn't feel over-worked or false. There were also some early `echoes' in the initial 45 minutes of the audiobook version that may have contributed to the issues, whether a microphone was not shielded or not operating properly, those issues did also resolve. ( I did listen with 3 different headphones from in ear to free-standing speakers to a set of high def headphones, none made any significant different to the echo issue I noted.)
This is only one of a handful of mystery/suspense audiobooks that I have listened to, and I will most certainly be accepting opportunities for more. Juba made a story that was interesting, intriguing and surprising for a wholly entertaining listen.

I received an AudioBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review for the Heard Word. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

hrchic

A generous 3 stars

Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2013

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As a fan of reality television, I expected to like this - meh, not so much. The lead character is extremely annoying, and in no way lives as the character the author developed-workout queen who satisfies herself with mountains of junk food; smart talented aggressive woman but she can't juggle a few speaking engagements and her workout clients, but wants to start a chain of workout studios). The lead insists that she wants fame and success, but then keeps hiding every time things get rough. Her answer to a stalker is to buy a gun and take one shooting lesson. She ignores the advice of everybody around her, constantly putting others in danger by going against all advice she has received. It was like one of those bad scary movies where you find yourself saying, "Don't open that door!" This was a really annoying lead character and story - seemed more like a petulant teenager.

RJ McDonnell

Hidden Treasure

Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2012

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You don't have to be a fan of reality TV to thoroughly enjoy Sink or Swim. If you like novels that combine the tension of thrillers with the problem-solving challenges of a good mystery, you'll love this book.

Cassidy Novak is a well drawn protagonist who is in the process of working through childhood issues while pursuing her dreams. But an unintended consequence of her participation on a reality TV show causes her to amend plans and deal with issues when a dangerous stalker forces his way into her life.

Author Stacy Juba does as masterful job of tying Cassidy's fate with her stalker to the resolution of longstanding problems. If you like to swim along the surface of a story to feel the waves of tension as they hit, you'll have a satisfying read. If you enjoy diving below the surface, you'll definitely find hidden treasure in Sink or Swim.

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Paul Kendall

To sink or swim that is the question?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2011

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Sink or Swim
by Stacy Juba

To be or not to be that is the question ? Or put up with a stalker, or fight back, that is the sink or swim question? Cassidy the main character in the book has to fight for her existence, she has to duck and dives a bit to avoid her stalker we follow her on this journey through the valley of death. Cassidy becomes aware that the price the Devil asks her to pay for being a minor wona be celebrity is being stalked. Big stars can hire security guard built like houses and move from one country to another, but being a minor celeb with a double figure bank balance is a pain in the ego.

Obsessive fans like the one in the book leave you asking how do they finance the huge logistical operation of tracking and killing multiple targets over a vast geographical area. Look how do stalkers manager to follow people 24/7 on the minimum wage amazes me. (anyway)

Cassidy had read the small print carefully, it's in there somewhere, fame is toxic, check out David Bowies song fame before you think of signing up for a game show or ticking that I want publicity if you win the lottery.

Michael Jackson was a prisoner of fame, stalked by the press and all kinds of wild animals pretending to be his friend. If he had been less talented, they would have left him alone The irony of getting what you wish for. Fame is a kind of black magic that you think you control, but it in reality controls you.

I don't watch reality TV, I fear I may get addicted to it, The contestants on the show in the book have been targeted by an obsessive fan. Well a little more than merely obsessive, this guy is killing them off, I guess that's a progressive obsessive fan. Stacy writes strong female charters. Stacy is smart, she know women buy 64 % of all books. The men in Stacy's books don't get a free ride. Stacy makes me laugh, she must have a note book at the side of her bed with a thousand put down lines lines and negative adjectives to describe men, Some for freaks, sickos, psycho wife beating lunatics, but my favourite in the book is this line " That guy must have a thousand screws lose" love it just, love it. Stacy does have a great descriptive writing style, the book is easy to read. The story is great, it's highly entertaining. I have read laundry day, loved it. and this book, there is no bad language, no gratuitous sex or anything grossly offensive, so it's dissimilar to the kind of books that I usually read. But hey, I read tons of books and I don't censor what I read, the mind is like a parachute, it only works when it's open.

If you want a good read, with a good story, that is well written, where the men are arseholes and the women are strong enlightened caring and good citizens. try Stay Juba and enjoy.

This review was of the kindle edition, Sink or Swim is highly recommended

Paul Kendall (Leeds UK )

DJW13

Reality contestant faces frightening reality.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 7, 2014

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Reality contestant faces frightening reality when after being the finalist she acquires a scary stalker. There are a number of likely suspects but, as usual, I did not guess the identity of the stalker.

There were drawbacks to the story, partly because of it being set in America. Cassidy thinks that if she has a gun she will be safe - that only works if you know who to shoot, they don't know you have a gun, you can make the leap from shooting at a target to shooting at a person and hopefully they don't have a gun as well.

There is a nice range of characters, many of whom are flawed, as we all are!

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