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The Ultimate Reality Show: How Far Would You Go To Win $10 Million?

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With his job as a high school football coach in jeopardy, Jack Forrest is not prepared to be offered the chance of a lifetime. Coming on his football field in a helicopter, the host of the reality show `The Ultimate Challenge', Vince Sinclair gives Jack one minute to decide to whether he wants become a participant in the show's newest season. At the urging of his friend, Jack says yes- and is promptly shot with a tranquilizer dart. Waking up in a plane with the rest of the contestants, he realizes he may have gotten himself into something he can't handle. As he is parachuting out of the plane, plummeting toward the ground, and screaming his head off, Jack is dead positive.

With the camera's giving no privacy and surrounding him at all times, Jack is figuring out how unreal reality tv show truly is. The competition and rivalry between all the contestants is raised with each new challenge they face. Jack has made an nemesis in the unlikable character of Eddie, who seems out to get him. He also finds himself attracted to one of the female contestants, Maria. And a series of dangerous `accidents' that happen are making Jack worried that the race for $10 million is being taken too far by someone in their group. Meanwhile, Jack's mother, Amanda, discovers that her son being chosen for the Ultimate Challenge wasn't just by chance and that her
past is finally catching up with her.

I picked this book up because it looked like it would be a fun read. It turned out to be even better than I was expecting. The experience of how unreal the whole show was great: Jack having to repeat something he said multiple times before the camera guy thought it sounded right, taking a shower in his swimming trunks because of the invasive cameras, the producers manipulation of who would leave after each challenge. There was also a nice unexpected twist at the end that really completed the whole story. Definitely a well-written book, recommended for a fun and enjoyable read.

I have several things I would like to say about this book. First and foremost if you love action then this book is definitely for you. However, it seemed more than a little trite. THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE was more like FEAR FACTOR, SURVIVOR, and THE AMAZING RACE with a little JERRY SPRINGER thrown in for good measure. And, was I the only one that noticed Kathryn's last name changed from Williams to Thompson in the middle of the book? That was certainly a newbie-writer flub (and I know Mr. Jacobsen is not a new writer). That SHOULD have been caught by SOMEBODY in the rewrites. Also, the constant head jumping is really annoying. I'm all for different points of view but not jumping from one person to another in the same paragraph for goodness sake! It really throws you out of the story. All in all, it was an interesting book and I would recommend it for those who enjoy fast paced action but if any of the above annoys you you might want to skip this one altogether.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Most of the time in books and movies, Christian characters, or characters of moral standing and fortitude, seem dull and one dimensional. Not so with this book. I could fully relate to Jack's predicament and never once did he seem weak, boring, or "religious."

Using a fictional game show as a plot device was brilliant and allowed the characters to face all kinds of bizarre and sticky situations without it seeming contrived. There were many plot twists. Some I saw a mile away and others that caught me completely off guard. Again, this was very well done. If you like reality shows such as Survivor or Biggest Loser, then you will love this book. If you think these shows are interesting, but ultimately a waist of time, you'll love this book. Where typical game shows are shallow and pointless, this book has depth and meaning that those other shows lack.

My only problem now with this book is who to loan it to first. I get to share this wonderful gem with many of my friends and family. Sometimes that's the best part of reading a great book.

One last thing: When does the movie come out? Surely someone must be looking at this book as a script for a movie. It'd be awesome!

What if you could compete in a reality show for a million dollars? Would you sacrifice your Christian viewpoints to backstab another contestant out of the game? With the world watching and you caught up in an intense survival contest, would your faith stand?

This book is intense! I loved the way the characters were brought to life. Jack Forrest is a very believable character, and you really feel drawn into his world of competition. But as the book progresses, you find something even more sinister going on behind the scenes. Why was Jack selected out of all possible candidates?

Jacobsen has done a great job with this novel. Sometimes the scenes cut out in parts where you'd like to keep reading, but that just makes you hang in there a little longer to get to that next chapter. An interesting premise done with originality.

For Clay Jacobsen, the media is nothing new. I've read all his stuff, and I'm not disappointed. If I had to pick, I'd personally say that "Interview With the Devil" is his best work. Now he's back with a new publisher, along with a new idea, and it still has me sweating just a bit! Clay takes on the Reality Show world, and Clay has spoken. Randy Singer did a similar theme this year in "The Cross Examination of Oliver Finney", and they both deserve attention. This is good stuff!

I can't imagine doing my job, just hammerin' away at whatever I'm doing and having my life possibly change... BOOM!!! (I said possibly, no guarantees, ok?) just like that. But that does happen to Jack Forrest. He tells his varsity football team to hit the showers, they hit the showers all right... and here comes this chopper! "You want the chance for 10 million? Come with us. You have 1 minute to decide." What would you do? To say the least, Jack takes it. Oh, and by the way, his job is on the line as well! OH, who are you taking on? Well come on now! You have a couple of babes, one cocky son-of-a-gun, the strategist, a few others come into play... AND YOU.

Is this really just a game? You are being tested. You are on some strange island, and you don't even know WHERE that stinkin' island is! Huh? What's going on here? This isn't like the other reality shows we've seen. And on top of all that, YOU are the Christian, the one who's supposed to make a difference in a world gone mad. Can you really stand by what you believe? You don't exactly like some of the challenges that are being presented to you, but you press on. With 10 million on the line, you hang in there. Don't worry, you have people praying for you back at home. There were a couple of drawn out places where I myself had to hang in there, and to say the least a little of it was too perfect. When I say that, I give nothing away, although the ending had me feeling just slightly cheated.

So, is this Clay Jacobsen's best? Not in my opinion, because it SCREAMS "Ultimate" and that's what I expect with a title like that. People like Clay Jacobsen deserve a pat on the back! Always giving 110%, despite what the odds are is always worth something to me. That's what keeps me coming back!

he Ultimate Reality Show by Clay Jacobsen is a Christian novel whose plot centers on the hit TV Reality Show whose concept is to fulfill a selfish wish of the Director to meet a woman from his past and to get to know her son whom he has heard lives by his Christian standards. He wishes to put him to the test and devises some amazing events to prove his moral fortitude. The novel is written in an interesting manner and boldly teaches concepts of chastity and honesty and living uprightly even when you don't think you're being watched and even against great odds and temptations. The central figures go through many trials and have a happy ending with an unexpected twist. An enjoyable read and a good book for teens also.

Jack Forrest didn't count the cost when he decides to compete for a ten million-dollar prize. Author Clay Jacobsen gives readers a glimpse into an ultimate reality game show that in the end deals with eternity. In this well-written novel, opposing forces set up camp. On one side are the ordinary lives of Jack and his fellow contestants. Across the way is the lure of a huge amount of money that could make those ordinary lives extraordinary. The only catch is that to win the game, the players must dodge danger, deceit, and a bit of deviltry. And the only rule is that there are no rules.

Jack Forrest is a committed Christian and he brings an entirely new slant to the challenge. It is inspiring to see how he smoothly revealed his worldview through his actions and dialogue. His wit and wisdom make him stand out in the crowd, but readers will have to wait until the last page to see if he wins the jackpot!

Operating on a parallel line to the story is the personal life of Jack and his mother. Their steadfast faith in God is tested when a secret from the past threatens their future. This bit of mystery is smoothly incorporated into the main plot to give it an additional layer of interest.

These pages offer plenty of action with a strong emotional appeal. The lure of a grand prize is cleverly contrasted with the most important things in a person's life. The excitement of the game show steadily builds until the final pages when the true victory is revealed. The Ultimate Reality Show is an undisputed winner! -- Joyce Handzo, Christian Book Previews.com

I enjoy watching reality shows and this book was definately a combo of Survivor and Amazing Race. I read it in 2 days, I couldn't put the book down. Even though it was somewhat predictable, I just had to find out if my predictions were right. And I was wrong in some of my guesses. I recommend this to anyone that was a fun read!

I read a book a week and this was easily the worst I've read this year. The characters are predictable and boring. the "twists" are obvious and the open-ended conclusion feels unnecessary. I am a big fan of reality shows like survivor. This book was a complete waste of time.