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Long Blue Line: Based on a True Story
Taking place in the idyllic town of South Lake Tahoe, CA, Long Blue Line is the coming of age of Elizabeth Jeter. It candidly reveals the provocative and secret world of a planned teen pregnancy and the brutal consequences that follow. The girl next door - popular and driven.
Once upon a time a beautiful teenager looked forward to school letting out and the warm, carefree days to come. But in the summer of her fifteenth year, things would drastically change. After reading a romance book sensationalizing a young woman's perfect life following the hookup with a wealthy prince charming, Elizabeth set out to create her own fairy tale ending. This would become the beginning of the darkest hours in her life: pregnancy, bridesmaids, drugs and jail.
Long Blue Line is Elizabeth's true story about her descent into addiction. Her obsession with pregnancy, social issues, independence, and, ultimately drugs is chronicled in brutally honest Prose that will leave you spellbound. Her journey isn't over - far from it. She still has nightmares, but today she is wiser and lives in reality.
If you are this girl, you will take a deep breath and nod your head knowingly. If you knew this girl, you will rethink your assumptions. If this girl is your daughter, you will finally get an insider's look at what she can't put into words.
Above all, you will be moved - moved to tears, to unity, to action. Elizabeth is one of the lucky ones. She survived. Sadly, many young women and their children are unable to escape the madness and become another one of too many true crime stories. Not everyone gets a second chance, and she hopes to inspire others with her straightforward honesty.
- GenresMemoir
590 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2014
171 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
E. McNew
20 books24 followersElizabeth McNew was raised in the small town of South Lake Tahoe, California, where she lived until the age of 21. She relocated to Texas, Arizona, Georgia, and back to Texas again where she is happily married with an infant daughter and beautiful home were she spends most of her time writing. Elizabeth has loved creating poetry and short stories from a very young age. Her first official publication was released on 8/26/2013, titled "Fifteen &...What!?". Born June 28th, 1987, Elizabeth is 26 years old and ecstatic that she has met her true passion and love for writing.
Through several series of tragic events early on in her life, Elizabeth is applying her suffering to her love of writing in hopes of touching any person who is going through hard times.
Through several series of tragic events early on in her life, Elizabeth is applying her suffering to her love of writing in hopes of touching any person who is going through hard times.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 15, 2017
I got this book as a free Kindle download. I wish I could say I enjoyed it, but the truth is, I didn't. I'm usually able to finish a book this size in a couple days, but I had a hard time reading it. Not because of the content, but because of the never-ending errors in spelling, grammar, and words that were either misused or left out completely. (Granted, the missing word issue didn't happen often, and only towards the end of the book... but still, it was annoying.) Other eyesores include:
** The names of the brothers (Derrick and Donnie) being swapped several times in the last quarter of the book. I'm guessing this may have happened because their real names weren't used in the book, and the author mistakenly used the wrong aliases.
** Conversations taking place in the same loooooong paragraph rather than using the standard dialogue rule of starting a new paragraph each time a different person speaks, which made conversations hard to follow. Not to mention, it's a strain on the eyes reading paragraphs that aren't broken up properly.
** Being taken out the "present" of the book, to events (or hinted-at events, at least) that take place in the near and/or distant future. Done properly, in a way that makes clear that it is an aside, or glimpse of things to come, it wouldn't have bothered me. But done within the same paragraph, with no hint that what is being said refers to a later time, is a bit jarring. It happens repeatedly throughout the book, and it always shoved me right out of the story.
As I've often found myself saying in reviews of Kindle freebies, this book desperately needed better editing. I also felt, at times, the story didn't have a natural flow to it. I'm not saying the book as a whole needed to be written in precise, chronological orders of events, but it did need some smoothing out, somehow. Perhaps a good editor could have helped in that regard, as well.
And personally, I'd have preferred to read the entire story in one book. This story is (so far) broken up into three separate books, and so many details are repeated in books two and three before you finally reach the new details... it's a little tedious going back over stuff you already know, when you just want to find out what happens next.
And yeah... I still want to find out what happens next. I'm just not sure I want to re-read chunks of books 1-3 in book four in order to find out...
** The names of the brothers (Derrick and Donnie) being swapped several times in the last quarter of the book. I'm guessing this may have happened because their real names weren't used in the book, and the author mistakenly used the wrong aliases.
** Conversations taking place in the same loooooong paragraph rather than using the standard dialogue rule of starting a new paragraph each time a different person speaks, which made conversations hard to follow. Not to mention, it's a strain on the eyes reading paragraphs that aren't broken up properly.
** Being taken out the "present" of the book, to events (or hinted-at events, at least) that take place in the near and/or distant future. Done properly, in a way that makes clear that it is an aside, or glimpse of things to come, it wouldn't have bothered me. But done within the same paragraph, with no hint that what is being said refers to a later time, is a bit jarring. It happens repeatedly throughout the book, and it always shoved me right out of the story.
As I've often found myself saying in reviews of Kindle freebies, this book desperately needed better editing. I also felt, at times, the story didn't have a natural flow to it. I'm not saying the book as a whole needed to be written in precise, chronological orders of events, but it did need some smoothing out, somehow. Perhaps a good editor could have helped in that regard, as well.
And personally, I'd have preferred to read the entire story in one book. This story is (so far) broken up into three separate books, and so many details are repeated in books two and three before you finally reach the new details... it's a little tedious going back over stuff you already know, when you just want to find out what happens next.
And yeah... I still want to find out what happens next. I'm just not sure I want to re-read chunks of books 1-3 in book four in order to find out...
February 28, 2016
This book was poorly written but it was like a train wreck and I could not quit reading it. The fact that it is a true story made it even more interesting. It was actually quite sad. This girl could not seem to ever get it together. One bad mistake after another. I felt especially bad for the children she brought into the middle of this mess.
February 4, 2017
I reviewed my own personal Kindle Unlimited copy of this book for Wicked Reads.
This was a difficult book to read and review. I didn't quite know what to expect when I decided to read it, but I can say I didn't want to put it down. I can't say that I loved it, but it isn't meant to be a book you love. The author has created a brutally honest warning to everyone. She is by no means perfect and neither is this book. It isn't a grand story created for entertainment. It is one of brutal truth and self discovery.
Elizabeth is/was your typical suburban teenage girl. Her head was full of fantasies even and even though she was quite intelligent, her adolescent brain couldn't comprehend the consequences of putting those fantasies into action.
This book is her actual story. She tells the brutal truth through her own eyes. It was very difficult for me, as a mother, to comprehend how she could have let some things happen, but another side of me that has dealt with family and friends' addictions, can also see how easily a person can slip away from themselves without realizing it. Drugs are a slippery slope, and the author wants readers to understand that. She wants people to understand that it can happen to anyone, and that it isn't something to ignore or hide when you see it.
I can say that my heart both aches for and scorns her for her actions. I couldn't imagine going through what she has, but having been a teen mother myself, I also relate to that naivete that she would have had. I commend her family and friends that supported her through everything. I do not think she would have made it through her ordeals without them. I am happy to hear that she seems to be doing well and I wish the best for her. I have seen friends go through something similar to this without a good outcome.
Overall, I think this IS a book for anyone to read. I am glad I read it and know quite a few people that I would like to suggest it to.
Wicked Reads Review Team
This was a difficult book to read and review. I didn't quite know what to expect when I decided to read it, but I can say I didn't want to put it down. I can't say that I loved it, but it isn't meant to be a book you love. The author has created a brutally honest warning to everyone. She is by no means perfect and neither is this book. It isn't a grand story created for entertainment. It is one of brutal truth and self discovery.
Elizabeth is/was your typical suburban teenage girl. Her head was full of fantasies even and even though she was quite intelligent, her adolescent brain couldn't comprehend the consequences of putting those fantasies into action.
This book is her actual story. She tells the brutal truth through her own eyes. It was very difficult for me, as a mother, to comprehend how she could have let some things happen, but another side of me that has dealt with family and friends' addictions, can also see how easily a person can slip away from themselves without realizing it. Drugs are a slippery slope, and the author wants readers to understand that. She wants people to understand that it can happen to anyone, and that it isn't something to ignore or hide when you see it.
I can say that my heart both aches for and scorns her for her actions. I couldn't imagine going through what she has, but having been a teen mother myself, I also relate to that naivete that she would have had. I commend her family and friends that supported her through everything. I do not think she would have made it through her ordeals without them. I am happy to hear that she seems to be doing well and I wish the best for her. I have seen friends go through something similar to this without a good outcome.
Overall, I think this IS a book for anyone to read. I am glad I read it and know quite a few people that I would like to suggest it to.
Wicked Reads Review Team
June 27, 2017
Got sick of reading this and stopped.
No one should read this. It's just horrible. I'm all for forgiving people but this person is ridiculous. If I read : "I felt so bad I cried , then I went and bought more meth. " Good Lord, people this dumb should never have kids. In my opinion this writer just made choices ( don't blame drugs, guys or whatever it was her choices )that ruined innocent lives and continues to mess up her own by admitting this horrible path. Seemed like it was all about her wanting a guy so bad....never mind..it was the worst book I've ever read and didn't even want to know what happened to her. Ugh.
No one should read this. It's just horrible. I'm all for forgiving people but this person is ridiculous. If I read : "I felt so bad I cried , then I went and bought more meth. " Good Lord, people this dumb should never have kids. In my opinion this writer just made choices ( don't blame drugs, guys or whatever it was her choices )that ruined innocent lives and continues to mess up her own by admitting this horrible path. Seemed like it was all about her wanting a guy so bad....never mind..it was the worst book I've ever read and didn't even want to know what happened to her. Ugh.
November 22, 2017
Good book. Sad, Mad and Why
Ok you young had kids. Got involved with drugs and bad people. I cry a lot but I was mad too. You did everything what you suppose to do for the courts. Derricks did nothing but still did wrong. Why. Why. But when I though you where going finally get away from the bad. No it did not. But the end you leave with another guy. Why. So I say leave do you. But for your girls look them up after you get it together. I so mad.
Ok you young had kids. Got involved with drugs and bad people. I cry a lot but I was mad too. You did everything what you suppose to do for the courts. Derricks did nothing but still did wrong. Why. Why. But when I though you where going finally get away from the bad. No it did not. But the end you leave with another guy. Why. So I say leave do you. But for your girls look them up after you get it together. I so mad.
February 24, 2018
Long road to go still... there is no maturity and rehabilitation is impossible
Unfortunately throughout the story blame was pointed elsewhere not on self. Until this person can mature and accept her life choices as her errors rehabilitation is not in reach...over and over it was Derrick....unbelievable...I do not see healing for a long time...
Unfortunately throughout the story blame was pointed elsewhere not on self. Until this person can mature and accept her life choices as her errors rehabilitation is not in reach...over and over it was Derrick....unbelievable...I do not see healing for a long time...
June 8, 2019
"Everyone else did this to me sob sob"
She never took ANY responsibility!!! Oh someone put drugs in my coffee... I thought it was just cocaine ( wrong on so many levels) it's all Derecks fault, donnies fault, the courts fault ... On and on and on. Her life was hell because of choices SHE made, no one else. What a selfish narcissistic little BRAT.
She never took ANY responsibility!!! Oh someone put drugs in my coffee... I thought it was just cocaine ( wrong on so many levels) it's all Derecks fault, donnies fault, the courts fault ... On and on and on. Her life was hell because of choices SHE made, no one else. What a selfish narcissistic little BRAT.
October 22, 2016
Very inspired
I loved it!! I could not stop reading, she is an inspiration that no matter what life throws at you , you will get through it. I so sorry for all the heartache, pain and hurt she has been through. As for me I probably could never have been as strong as Elizabeth
I loved it!! I could not stop reading, she is an inspiration that no matter what life throws at you , you will get through it. I so sorry for all the heartache, pain and hurt she has been through. As for me I probably could never have been as strong as Elizabeth
October 2, 2017
Good book, some of the writing was alternating between clean and crisp while at other times was almost sloppy. I enjoyed that the author did what she could to really share her emotions and how she was feeling going through all of those things. I look forward to her next book.
March 1, 2022
It's difficult to call a true story a "good read", but I've "enjoyed" reading this one a few times. Although, the editing is subpar, because there's a lot of grammatical and punctuation errors. At one point a sentence just ends in the middle and you don't get any more content. Besides these mistakes, it's worth reading.
January 14, 2018
Great read
Really enjoyed the book. Can't wait for the rest of the story.
You go girl! Can't help rooting for Elizabeth.
Really enjoyed the book. Can't wait for the rest of the story.
You go girl! Can't help rooting for Elizabeth.
May 22, 2019
Good story line but . . .
I think the book could use a lot more editing and proofreading. It is a good story about rough times though.
I think the book could use a lot more editing and proofreading. It is a good story about rough times though.
November 24, 2015
This is an extremely difficult book to read. Drug abuse, alcohol abuse, child sexual abuse are not typically things I care to read about. However, I struggled onward to see if this girl, Elizabeth, could or would ever wake-up to the reality of her life and get it straightened out. Over and over and over again, she makes the wrong decisions and choices. I have family members with alcohol addiction and have seen far too often how they destroy their lives and the lives of those around them. I tried not to be judgmental as I've never had any addiction of this nature. It was difficult, at best, to see her choose meth and cocaine over the welfare of her children, not to mention staying with a complete loser of a man. I felt the book left the reader hanging as to what happened in her future. It saddened me to see her jumping from one bad relationship to another before she ever fully got on her feet. All of this being said, the book has so many editing errors, that it became increasingly annoying. The book is painfully long and so much of it was repetitive and unnecessary. I felt like it could have been half the length and much better in content with a qualified editor. Nonetheless, from the foreword in the book, it sounds as if Elizabeth has gotten her life completely on track. I can only hope she, at some point in her life, is able to rectify her broken relationships with her three beautiful girls.
January 30, 2017
The story is long and drawn out with lots of mistakes. The content is micro-managed. More editing is needed.
The responsibility of Elisabeth's behavior was placed on everyone around her, a trade for most addicts. Three kids before the age of twenty, which Elisabeth claims to love with all her heart, seems to be a lot of responsibility for such a young girl. I can't help but wonder why she felt a need to produce more children after the first one, knowing she was addicted. It's a sad story because bad choices wrecked many lives.
The responsibility of Elisabeth's behavior was placed on everyone around her, a trade for most addicts. Three kids before the age of twenty, which Elisabeth claims to love with all her heart, seems to be a lot of responsibility for such a young girl. I can't help but wonder why she felt a need to produce more children after the first one, knowing she was addicted. It's a sad story because bad choices wrecked many lives.
February 10, 2015
Was an add on to the story of the other book
I liked it. I felt the pain and wanted to cry with her. I was hooked with the other book. I read it, then realized it was updated and more of the story was added. Now this book is both stories added together as a whole and the ending. I recommend that you read this! Very good read.
I liked it. I felt the pain and wanted to cry with her. I was hooked with the other book. I read it, then realized it was updated and more of the story was added. Now this book is both stories added together as a whole and the ending. I recommend that you read this! Very good read.
October 25, 2014
A great read
Great book, you feel her emotions as your read the words. This story should be a must read for all mothers. any mother going thru the system should be given a copy. read to find strength and know it can be done.
Great book, you feel her emotions as your read the words. This story should be a must read for all mothers. any mother going thru the system should be given a copy. read to find strength and know it can be done.
February 19, 2016
Addicting
Could not put this book down! Well written first hand account of a young teen who has a baby, gets married and addicted to meth. She loses custody of her children and has to fight to get them back. I felt for her, she had hardly any support from her parents.
Could not put this book down! Well written first hand account of a young teen who has a baby, gets married and addicted to meth. She loses custody of her children and has to fight to get them back. I felt for her, she had hardly any support from her parents.
October 4, 2014
Loved
Her story is heartbreaking but also a story of triumph. To have gone through so much at such an early age..........
Her story is heartbreaking but also a story of triumph. To have gone through so much at such an early age..........
September 30, 2016
Inspiration...
Love the real and honest writing style. Sometimes a happy ending is not a fairy tale... would love to read more stories of real life struggles and triumphs.
Love the real and honest writing style. Sometimes a happy ending is not a fairy tale... would love to read more stories of real life struggles and triumphs.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews