YA Book Review + Giveaway – Two Blue Lines (Crossing the Line) by S.C. Montgomery

Two Blue Lines (Crossing the Lines #1) by S.C. Montgomery

Synopsis
His fear . . . Her secrets . . . Their choice.

What if the only girl you’ve ever loved lied to you?

Lied to everyone?

Those two blue lines changed everything for Reed Young and Melissa Summers. In more ways than one.

And now, he must decide for himself . . .

Man up or walk away?

SC Montgomery has created an emotional tale of first love, difficult choices, and impossible secrets. A deliciously angsty debut you need to read for yourself.

***Reader Warning*** Two Blue Lines is the emotional, honest story of two teenagers whose lives are about to change forever. While not glorified, or portrayed in detail, there are themes of sexual assault and teen pregnancy, as well as allusions to teenage drinking and some foul language. It is all meant to create an honest, relevant novel, but please be aware and read only if you’re comfortable.

***Note, while this novel is a standalone that deals with mature subject matter, it may be helpful to read Lines in the Sand first to understand what makes Reed Young tick and hear about the summer that changed his life forever. Well, before this one.

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My Review
Two Blue Lines picks up four years after Lines in the Sand. Reed is with Melissa, the only girl he’s ever loved, and the girl he was crushing on in Lines in the Sand. Melissa is pregnant and everything in Reed’s life is about to change. Adopted herself and never feeling like she’s a full member of her family, giving the baby up is not an option. But Reed isn’t prepared to be a father. He’s too young and has big plans for his future. He refuses to allow one mistake in the back seat of his car to ruin everything. But he loves Melissa and will do anything for her. At least Melissa hopes so. Especially when she tells him her darkest secret.

I love that S.C. Montgomery never let her characters off the hook, absolved them from the consequences of their actions. They struggle in realistic fashion with the changes in their lives, fighting, loving, living, terrified and joyously from moment to moment.

The relationship between Reed and Melissa is angsty and authentic. Their love is intense, as it is with most teenagers, but the enduring quality of it sets them apart and drives the story.

Plot
The story moves at a solid pace, taking many twists and turns, breaking my heart and putting it back together again. The main plot and various subplots are woven together and kept me guessing. Just when I was sure I had it figured out, S.C. Montgomery threw me completely and left me with my mouth hanging open along with the characters in her story.

World Building
In a contemporary romance, it’s less about world building than establishing the setting, and that’s precisely what the author does. I can envision that south Texas beach perfectly, feel the salty breezes, the heaviness of the air from the humidity. But it’s also about creating the events leading up to the story that make the events believable. What might be acceptable in a large city would be completely inappropriate in a small town in the south. The time and place chosen as the backdrop for Reed and Melissa’s heart wrenching story is perfect.

Characters
The story unfolds from Reed’s point of view and he comes across completely authentic. Never did I question that the writer was anything other than a teenaged boy. His fears, doubts, even his tendency toward self-centeredness were completely believable.

We get glimpses of Melissa through her diary and I will probably get grief for this, but I didn’t much care for Melissa. I understood her motivations and she acted according to character, I just didn’t like her character. She came across as snively, controlling, insecure, and deceitful. Yes, I know she had her reasons, but I just didn’t like her. But Reed does and that’s all that really matters because it’s really his story. And even though I didn’t like Melissa, she was just as rich and developed a character as Reed.

The supporting cast, from Reed’s best friend Jonah, to both sets of parents and siblings round out the story nicely giving it depth.

Bottom Line
I loved this book. Two Blue Lines is a wonderful coming of age story that takes a genuine look at teen pregnancy and the struggles, tough emotions, and forgiveness that comes with it.

Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

About the Book

Title: Two Blue Lines
Series: Crossing the Line #1
Author: S.C. Montgomery
Category: Young Adult Contemporary
Release Date: October 23, 2014
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

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Author S.C. Montgomery

About the Author
SC Montgomery is a self-proclaimed nerd and readaholic. She has dabbled in telling stories since she was very young by letting her imagination play out with her Barbie dolls and her bestie many a weekend. She also writes Contemporary adult romance under the pen name Shauna Allen, and it was in one of those novels that the YA bug bit when she wrote in a teenager loosely based on her own son.

Her first story, Lines in the Sand, was penned as a gift for her mother, but was published with her blessing, and it’s just taken off from there.

SC is married with three teenagers of her own, who give her plenty of inspiration and advice, and are a constant source of laughter and new terminology. Besides writing, she loves reading, movies, singing and dancing reality shows and going to the beach.

Giveaway
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