Sink or Swim

Made the Nook Top 100 and was a Nook Mystery Bestseller. Also a #1 Amazon Kindle Bestseller in the Women Sleuths and Romantic Suspense categories. Sink or Swim is now available in e-book and audiobook formats. Please scroll down to find retailer links, a synopsis, excerpt, book trailer, reviews and Reader’s Guide. Visit the Store tab to access buy links for all of Stacy’s books.

$2.99 e-book versions available from:
Amazon Kindle
Barnes & Noble (Nook)
Smashwords
iBookstore
Kobo
Sony Reader Store
All Romance Ebooks
Also available as part of the Young Ladies of Mystery Boxed Set.

The audiobook edition is narrated by Fundal Duval and is WhisperSync for voice ready so that readers can switch seamlessly between listening and reading. Now available at:
Amazon
Audible
iTunes

Listen to a sample on Audible!

How do you change the channel when reality TV turns to murder? Personal trainer Cassidy Novak has gained fame for starring on a hit reality show. Not only does she lose and have to walk the plank, but upon returning home, Cassidy discovers she is being stalked. As her former competitors get killed off, Cassidy refuses to play by the stalker’s bizarre rules. She’s also being shadowed by photographer Zach Gallagher, who has been assigned to capture her personal moments for the local newspaper. She wants to trust Zach, but fears he may not be as nice as he seems. When the stalker forces a showdown, Cassidy must walk the plank again – this time for her life.

Read an excerpt of the book.

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Advance Quotes for Sink or Swim:
“Being on a hit reality show not once, but three times, made Sink or Swim really hit home for me… It was an easy read and extremely well written… I would love to see it come out as a movie one day!”
- Stephenie LaGrossa, owner of GiGi Restaurant & Lounge, Philadelphia PA, Television personality and fan favorite Survivor: Palau, Guatemala, Heroes vs. Villains

“After being on a reality show, Big Brother 10 on CBS and Showtime, reading Sink or Swim made me feel like I was Cassidy. People don’t ever know what happens behind the scenes. I thought it was a great read and kept me in suspense.”
- Michelle Costa, contestant Big Brother 10

“I thought it was a very interesting read. Not too many people will ever really know all that happens behind the scenes unless you’ve worked on reality TV shows or been a contestant. So much takes place that’s indescribable especially where travel is involved. I thought the author did a great job in giving the behind-the-scenes of the process, and various scenarios that reality TV stars may experience – during and after they’ve appeared on air.”
- Shawne Morgan, contestant CBS’s The Amazing Race 16, Entrepreneur

Reviews:
“If you need help getting through a murderous workout (pun intended) this book is a wonderful, clever and entertaining distraction. The identity of the stalker left me guessing until the end, and believe me that is a refreshing and pleasant surprise. Congratulations, Ms. Juba, for giving us a great read.”
- Coffee Time Romance & More

“By incorporating well-developed characters, reality TV, murder, mystery, believable dialogue, complex characters, plot twists and a bit of romance all together in a compelling, fast-paced story, Ms. Juba has penned a novel that will keep readers glued to the pages, unable to put it down until they reach the satisfying conclusion.”
- Romance Junkies

“With plenty of suspects to pick from, and as many red herrings to throw you off the track, you’ll be guessing until the satisfying conclusion. The story moves along quickly, and you won’t want to put it down! Make a vacation list on your Kindle and add Sink or Swim to the top.”
- Nancy Wood Books

“Once again author Stacy Juba has penned a novel that is definitely not going to sink, it will do more than just swim: It will rise to the top with no lifeboats needed. Read this outstanding second novel by the author of Twenty Five Years Ago Today to find out what happens to Cassidy. Walking the plank is dangerous and sinking to the bottom even more.”
- Fran Lewis, Bookpleasures.com

“Stacy Juba has done it again! I was so excited to read this book because I loved her previous book, Twenty-Five Years Ago Today, and she did not disappoint! I could not put this book down and was sad that I finished it so quickly. Cassidy was a great character; so down-to-earth that I felt like I was reading a biography. There was action, mystery and romance all tied into one very well-written story.”
- Book-Club-Queen

“Sink or Swim was an intriguing suspenseful mystery with a smidgen of romance thrown into the mix. It will keep you guessing until the end.”
Romantic Comedy and Mystery Author Sibel Hodge, My Blog – Books and Stuff

“Love, love Cassidy! She is a very believable character. Juba has done a great job making this book seem like something that had actually happened. I never knew who the actually stalker was (which is a HUGE plus in my book). Cassidy also never made those irritating classic air-headed decisions that really annoy me. The book has a few twists and turns that keep it interesting and builds up to a great conclusion. I definitely recommend this book.”
- Kelsey’s Book Corner

“This novel really surprised me and had me flipping pages faster than ever to find out what was going to happen. It’s a thriller, mystery and just a plain good read all rolled into one that kept me guessing throughout.”
- Peeking Between the Pages

“If you enjoy a good mystery with great characters then Sink or Swim is the book for you. The reality show element is really in the background so if you hate reality shows don’t let this put you off of an excellent book. If you love reality shows, this is a great book with the reality show in the background. Either way – it’s a good book and will entertain you for several hours. I cannot find fault with this book at all, the writing is well-done, the characters interesting, and the mystery stimulating. An excellent book for a weekend or weeknight read!”
- My Reading Room

“Sink or Swim is a quick read and is one of those books that sucks you in and won’t let you stop reading until the very end. Will you guess right as to who the stalker really is? Read Sink or Swim to find out!”
- Juniper Grove

“You get a mix for a possible disaster where not everything is what it seems. The surface of those you think you know is often a façade. This is a great whodunit mystery with a thread of romance throughout. Be careful what you wish for, it may not be what you expect when you are gifted just that. This is a wonderful and fast-paced, with a cast of characters that could rival Survivor or The Amazing Race. The contestants could not be more real. The romance is just right and tagged as an aside to the actual story with is about the dangers of celebrity. A satisfying read.”
- Tic Toc Reviews

“I really enjoyed this story. I must admit that I am not really into the reality show craze, but this held my attention throughout. I give it an A+!”
- Emeraldfire’s Bookmark

“Stacy Juba pens an entertaining tale with just the right mix of suspense. The pages flew by quickly as I found myself immersed in Cassidy’s story. The characters are vibrant and well developed set against a realistic reality show. The stalker isn’t easy to pinpoint either! Ms. Juba navigates us through twists and turns and surprises that will leave you with a highly satisfied conclusion. A very gratifying read!”
- The Minding Spot

“This was a fun mystery that kept me captivated from the first few chapters. The plot was great and the story moved right along. I found myself rooting for Cassidy she seemed so real to me.The characters in Sink or Swim were well developed with a great mix personalities. Whether you like reality TV or not I think you will enjoy this book.”
- Tifferz Book Review

“Another super-fun summer read by Juba, who makes romantic mystery/suspense deliciously fun – this time, by taking on reality TV with a sinister twist…”
- Author Jen Blood, BloodWrites Mystery Picks of the Week Column

“The end was a complete shocker, and considering I usually guess who the ending by the middle of the book or movie, I really enjoyed being surprised. I picked this book up, toyed with the first page for a bit and then dug in, not putting it down until two hours later when I was finished. This was an excellent book.”
- Kathy Hiester, Bookworm Baby

“Fame is a kind of black magic that you think you control, but it in reality controls you…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 Stacy Juba and enjoy…Sink or Swim is highly recommended.”
- Paul Kendall, K3 Books

“Juba takes full advantage of the potential in this premise to maintain the tension throughout.”
- Big Al’s Books and Pals

“The suspense was constantly building and you will be working hard throughout the entire book to figure out who did it. Don’t do that to your self because you will never be able to figure it out but isn’t that part of the fun?”
- This Is From My Heart

Readers’ Guide:

1. People tend to either love or hate reality television shows. Where do you fit in the spectrum? Why do you think these shows are so popular with viewers and networks?

2. Why do you think the classic children’s novel, A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is still so important to Cassidy? Why did Cassidy relate to the character of Sara Crewe when she was a child and what does this reveal about her as an adult?

3. How did you like Cassidy as a character? What were her strengths and flaws? How does she change by the end of the novel?

4. How did you feel about Cassidy’s offbeat family? Would you consider them normal or dysfunctional?

5. Compare and contrast the characters of Josh and Zach as possible love interests for Cassidy? How did you feel about these characters when they were first introduced and how did your feelings change as you learned more about them?

6. How important do you think fame and personal achievement were to Cassidy at the beginning of the book? What about at the end of the book?

7. Most of the novel was told from Cassidy’s point of view, however during a couple of pivotal moments, the author briefly switched to other viewpoint characters. How do you think this enhanced or detracted from the novel? Why do you think the author chose to switch viewpoints in these instances?

8. Staying with Rosemary in Vermont challenges Cassidy’s independence at first, however by the end of her visit, Cassidy almost enjoys someone taking care of her. How did you like the character of Rosemary?

9. Were you surprised by the identity of the stalker? Why or why not? Who were your suspects?