Lines in the Sand (Crossing the Line Prequel) by S.C. Montgomery
Synopsis
Two best friends. One emotional adventure.
When Reed Young and Jonah King unearth some mysterious remains at their favorite beach hangout, their summer is thrust into an exciting tailspin.
Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, they embark on a heartrending journey to find out the truth . . . and make it right.
But neither of them expected the secrets they would find.
***Reader note***While Lines in the Sand is a standalone novella, appropriate for younger readers, it is intended as a prequel to Two Blue Lines, which continues Reed Young’s story as he’s forced into a situation nobody wants to find themselves in at sixteen. Read and enjoy at your own discretion.
My Review
The summer before high school, Reed and Jonah discover a bone and a strip of leather with the name, Lettie, etched into it on a south Texas beach, thus launching an adventure that changes both of their lives. This novella, a prequel to S.C. Montgomery’s Two Blue Lines which takes place three years after Lines in the Sand, delves into Reed’s character. We learn what makes him tick, how his friendship with Jonah came to be so strong, and are introduced to his attraction to Melissa.
The book is a quick read that stands well enough alone. It’s not particularly deep, nor gripping, but it’s a good story and I learned to love Reed and Jonah in the short 39 pages. I’m rooting for both of them now that I’m well into Two Blue Lines.
Plot
The plot is about the mystery of who Lettie was and what happened to her. I was surprised when I learned the truth about Lettie and never saw the twist at the end coming. While the primary plot is the mystery, the novella does a fabulous job of establishing both Reed’s and Jonah’s characters so that on page one of Two Blue Lines, I knew these two boys and could understand why they react the way they do. The story of Lettie is interesting and gives us even more insight into them, but I almost think that’s secondary to the character development.
Characters
The characters are the strongest aspect of this novella. Both Reed and Jonah are utterly believable as 13-year-old boys trying to figure out where they fit into the world around them, life in general, and girls in particular. As they unravel the mystery of Lettie, they learn more about themselves. The relationship each boy has with his family, and their friendship with each other were well crafted and came across as authentic.
Bottom Line
Lines in the Sand is a solid prequel and sets the stage for Two Blue Lines.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
About the Book
Title: Lines in the Sand
Series: Crossing the Line Prequel
Author: S.C. Montgomery
Pages: 39
Category: Young Adult Contemporary
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon
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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.
Where to Find S.C. Montgomery
Goodreads | Website | Facebook | Twitter