New Music!!

So, I love He is We so much. They're original and different and so great. If you haven't heard of them yet, you just have to listen to one song, and I swear you'll be hooked. I love them! Here is one of their newer songs from their recently released EP album, Skip to the Good Part.
So, take a listen. Leave a comment, telling me what you think, or recommend a new artist for me to check out.

Blogging with Windows Live!

So, this is my first time to try and blog with Windows Live on my new laptop. I’ve never used the program before so I’m hoping it works and posts correctly and all that. This is mainly just a test post, but feel free to comment with your feelings about Windows Live if you’ve ever used it!

'Mazin Music Sundays . . . LADY ANTEBELLUM

So, while I wait for my homework to download to my computer (why are all of my teachers so internet-obsessed these days?) I decided I should at least keep up this daily bit of music for all of you.

This song is called 'Dancin' Away With My Heart by the wonderful Lady Antebellum. It's a song of young love and the one who got away, or at least that's how I saw it. It's such a sweet song, and from such a great, new album.



Go buy yourself their newest album, Own the Night, and listen to the other wonderful songs! Hope you all have a good week, and I'll see you next weekend when the smoke clears!

I'm still alive . . . somewhat

High school is tiring. It's that tired that clings to your eyelids from the second you wake up to the moment you lay your head down that night. With my alarm clock going off at six every morning and volleyball ending at five, it's a long, nonstop eleven hours in between. Then there's homework, dinner and of course, I've got to socialize with my family at the very least.

It's not all bad, though, I guess. I feel a lot more freedom in high school than I did previous years. It's just a long day, you know? You can feel the past changing and the future looming ahead a lot more. People change, and so does life. It's one of those things that happened to sneak up on me.

This post is mainly to let you guys know that I won't be posting as often. I'm really sorry, but it's just not possible. Once things calm down, I'll be back to my usual schedule and I'll make sure to get my "Dear Friend" letter up and going and keep the "Mazin' Music Sundays" alive!

For now, you can expect a post per week, at best. Comment on my posts to let me know you care if you read this, by the way! I'd love support from fellow high-school go-ers. Until next week, though, I must say ciao!

By the way, check out Lady Antebellum's newest album "Own the Night"! My personal favorite off the album is "Cold as Stone", especially the musical bit at the end!

A Letter to a Friend

I just made the decision that once a week, I'll write a letter to someone and post it on this blog. Of course, I'll change names and such. The letter may not always be to a friend, too. This week, I'm writing to someone I met and can't seem to get out of my head . . . if you know what I mean.


Dear Nathan,


Remember when everyone thought I liked your best friend? At first, I did. It wore off, though. He could be annoying, in all honesty. The time I spent with both of you . . . people thought I was trying to get close to him, but I wasn't.

I started to love your quirky little facts and gorgeous eyes. You made me laugh and smile more than I had in awhile. We started hanging out more and more, with our friends, of course. Still, though, you made me feel like we were in our own little world. It was a magical feeling.

When we went to that camp at the end of the school year, everyone was having fun. We played tag in the pool, snuck off to the gazebo and spent the day together. When you risked detention to sit next to me on the bus (boy-girl seating was frowned upon!) my heart fluttered.

Was I just a speed bump? Something to stop at and pay attention to, but only for a moment? I really thought we were going somewhere, thought we were becoming something.

And then, a week later, my friend was texting me to tell me you asked her out. I played the role of a good friend, patching up your arguments and letting you two be happy. It broke me inside. It broke my heart into pieces that nothing could put back together. When she broke up with you, I waited. I gave you time.



We were at your friend's house the other day, and I thought of telling you. It's been months since you dated her. Would it be too soon for me to tell you how I really felt? We were talking when you looked at your friend and then at me. You pointed to me, made a heart and then to your friend.

Can't you forget about him? I don't love him, and I never will. I want you to be my friend again, Nathan. Can't we please be friends, like we were before I liked your friend and you dated my best friend?

Please,

Ashley

It's Friday, Friday, Friday!

Yeah, who would've guessed? I'm a closet Rebecca Black fan.

No, not really. Although, her songs are catchy.

Anyway, I decided to post today about what's been going on. The blog's been updated. I took away a few widgets, changed the template and switched a few things. What do you think? Does it look better now than before? If you have a scroller along the bottom of your screen, you can view my whole blog by changing your zoom percentage to 80% in the bottom right-hand corner. It won't let me change it, so sorry for that.

I'm glad that my twenty followers are nice enough to check in on my blog every now and then. Tell other people about this random blog of ramblings, too, guys! I'll be reviewing books, giving advice and showing you the latest in the music world.

School's starting soon for me, but I hope to be on often. Don't forget to stop by and tell me how your first days are going, no matter what grade you're going into.

It's time for me to go, but I wish you a good last weeks of summer and the best of luck in school!

And the storm rolls in . . .

Isn't that picture gorgeous? I like to think so, seeing as I took it. The sunset was really pretty that night in Jamaica and I just couldn't resist capturing it.

Well, that's pretty much the happiest part of this post. These last few days have been eventful and chaotic in my house. I started volleyball on Monday and had a good time, but during practice yesterday I got my foot caught in someone's open duffel bag and twisted my ankle.

It was a lovely trip to the doctor and then to get x-rays done. Turns out, my ankle was sprained, and now I get to wear a lovely little ankle brace for the next week or so. I guess I really shouldn't be running without looking down every few seconds, right?

My sister had to go to the doctor today for what looked like a tick bite. She was diagnosed with lyme disease, but she'll be all right. It just needs a good dose of medicine every day for the next two weeks. She doesn't seem to mind too much, so I'm guessing she's feeling the same as she usually does.

The icing on this wonderful cake of pessimism? There's a hurricane heading for my state, and it's supposed to be pretty bad. I hope it's a little better than expected. I'm crossing my fingers and the toes I can!

Hope all of you are having a better week than me, but hey . . . after every storm comes a rainbow!

By the way, what comes after a hurricane? A firework/rainbow/unicorn explosion? I hope so!

Back in the States!

Yes, I have survived Jamaica and made it home in one piece. It's an awful big accomplishment if I do say so myself. My trip was good, but not excellent. It was pretty, yes. There were pools, yes. The ocean was clear, yes.

Was there internet access? No. Was the hotel service magnificent? No. Was snorkeling awesome? No.

That last one is mainly for all of the people that told me to go snorkeling.
"You'll have fun!"
"Don't be a wuss; go and snorkel!"
"So, you're just going to be lazy and sit on the beach all day?"

I went snorkeling to please those people, you know. It was terrifying. The water was rough, I couldn't see a thing and, the icing on the cake . . . I cut my foot on the coral! Three pretty little pieces of purple coral were lodged in my foot, and I had to go to the hospital nurse to get one removed. The other two are still in my foot.

All in all, though, it was a good trip. It was really nice to just get away from everything, you know? You're probably wondering what else I did. (Did she really get coral in her foot and that was it?) I did a ton of stuff, and I'll be posting pictures soon.

Have a good Sunday, guys! I'll post some music for y'all later!! :)

The friends we make, the lives we shake

After reading Tangled by Carolyn Mackler (check out the review, guys!) I realized that our lives are all based on a million chance meetings . . . like the people I met at the Taylor Swift concert a few nights ago. Or the friend I went with. Maybe I'll never see those new people again, or maybe, one day they'll replace that friend I went with. It's all so random . . . this life, this world.


Without friends, we wouldn't be the people we are, right? We all have friends, different kinds with their own little quirks. I decided to write a post about those friends, or, about my friends. Maybe you'll be able to relate, maybe not.



My Best Friend:


We love the same music, books, snacks . . . we're practically twins in some aspects. Despite that fact, we do have our differences.


She loves softball, I'll always be a die-hard volleyball fan. She goes to a personal trainer, I go to the gym. She doesn't like to write short stories, I live off of them.


So, we have our differences. The key to our friendship though: we let things be. There's no arguments over stupid things, no begging for sleepovers, no persistent text-messaging and calling. We talk when we want, say what we want to say and do what we feel like. Friendship should come easily (that's not to say it's all butterflies and rainbows, you've gotta make an effort); if you've gotta really work at it, it's time to leave it.



The Know-It-All:

We all have that friend, right? Either they're always getting top grades or they know about the latest gossip, and they flaunt it. It can get annoying sometimes.

My friend is super-smart, and she doesn't let me forget. While, sometimes, I want to narrow my eyes and stick my tongue out at her, I just remind myself that she might know all about math and reading, but there's stuff she doesn't know.

Keeping things light lets us stay friends with each other. We don't argue and we don't get annoyed when the other wins (whether that be a geometry final or a writing contest). Friends shouldn't argue over the little things. So stop yourself if you find yourself bickering without reason.


The Butterfly:


I once heard about a girl being described as a butterfly, no faster was she tacked down than she was escaping and running off. My friend reminds me of Bridget from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. She can't be tied down.


Not by a boyfriend. Not by a friend. Not by anyone.


I used to try and keep a leash on her, but there's no point. Friends like these come and go, and you just have to let yourself have a good time while it lasts. They come quickly, but they leave oh so soon.


So, enjoy them. Let them in, but know they will go. Butterflies can never stay forever, you know.


Here Tomorrow, Gone Today:

She laughs at your jokes, agrees with your decisions and makes you feel like you could be friends forever. Then, suddenly, you're realizing she wasn't always like this. She used to be mean, used to be evil.

People change in the blink of an eye. One second, they're an enemy and then . . . they're an ally, standing beside you. It all changes so much, though. I once had a friend who promised me forever. When the tide shifted and the sun stopped shining. . . friendship's a fickle thing. It comes and it goes. It rains and it snows.

Here's a poem I wrote after the fallout of a really, really long friendship:

Our Friendship’s Fall

Friendship is built from
Love, hope and trust.
When we’re little, it’s formed
From faith and pixie dust.

It’s supposed
To be strong.
It supposed to
Last long.

So why didn’t ours?
One day, it was there.
Now it’s gone.
This doesn’t seem fair.

We were so close;
I knew your dreams.
You knew my wishes,
But nothing is as it seems.

Was I just a toy?
Something to be thrown away?
Is it because I changed;
Stood up for myself that day?

You promised that we would
Be best friends forever,
So why has our friendship
Suddenly been severed?

We’re both at fault;
We can both be blamed.
Honestly, though,
I’m not ashamed.

Our friendship was rocky,
Before this whole mess.
All because you started
To care about it less.

Our texts were short,
And you stopped calling.
When I wanted to make plans,
You were always stalling.

I backed up,
And I stepped away.
I promised myself my emotions
Would no longer sway.

I’m sorry I really saw you,
For what you truly are.
You were no longer my friend;
No longer a shining star.

Friendship is built from
Love, hope and trust.
When we’re little, it’s formed
From faith and pixie dust.

None of that matters, though,
When you’re only acting.
Your lies and the stories you wove,
They’re all so impacting.

I’m turning away,
And ending it now.
I can’t do it any longer,
So go ahead and take a bow.

Don’t bother calling.
It’s over, once and for all.
I’ll try not to remember
Our friendship’s fall.

It hurts, doesn't it? When suddenly your 'best friend forever' is defriending
you and deleting your phone number from their contacts. It comes down to one
question though: Do you really want to be friends with someone who can erase you
so quickly?

The Friend of the Opposite Sex:

that you almost always wind up falling for. Yeah, I've got one of those. Actually, you know what? I've got two of them. I let myself fall in love with one of my closet guy friends and it was a really big screw-up on my part.

But you know what? I don't care anymore. I like him somewhat now, not as much as before. Call me all the names you'd like, but I even find myself leaning closer to my other guy friend. The thing is, I know nothing will ever happen between us. It makes me feel risky and confident to lean in and brush an eyelash from his cheek.

Let yourself fall in love with that guy you hang out with all the time. If you fall, he might just catch you.

Or he might stay a friend and put a trampoline where you're going to fall.

Tangled . . . .

I realized it's been a bit since I've done a book review, so I thought . . . Hey, why not review Tangled by Carolyn Mackler? I got it at the Borders closing sale *tear tear* and read it a week or so ago.

Title: Tangled

Author: Carolyn Mackler

Summary: Paradise wasn’t supposed to suck.

Not the state of being, but a resort in the Caribbean. Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all there for different reasons, but at Paradise their lives become tangled together in ways none of them can predict. Paradise will change them all.

It will change Jena, whose first brush with romance takes her that much closer to having a life, and not just reading about those infinitely cooler and more exciting. It will change Dakota, who needs the devastating truth about his past to make him realize that he doesn’t have to be a jerk just because people think he’s one. It will change Skye, a heartbreakingly beautiful actress, who must come to terms with the fact that for once she has to stop playing a role or face the consequences. And it will change Owen, who has never risked anything before and who will take the leap from his online life to a real one all because of a girl he met at Paradise….

From confused to confident and back again, one thing’s certain: Four months after it all begins, none of them will ever be the same.

Stars: 4

Rate: 7.5

Pros: I love when books switch POVs which is what Tangled did. The book was split into four parts, each told from a different character. The twists and turns in this novel were what kept me reading. The characters were all unique, too. Definitely a good book to read when you want some juicy storylines.

Cons: I felt like just as I really began to saw who a character was, the book switched to another POV. It was somewhat annoying, I must admit. Some of the scenes in the book could've been fleshed out more, but Mackler did a decent job of describing things and whatnot.




Overall Recommendation: Read it. It can be kind of weird with the switching point of views, but it did have a strong story. It wasn't all sugar-coated gum-drops, either. All in all, a well-written book that I recommend to you.

"Whether it is clear or unclear to you the universe is folding as it should."
— Carolyn Mackler (Tangled)

Taylor Swift and Pottermore :D

It's been over a week since my last post. I didn't even realize until today! Sorry, guys. It's been a busy few days. I've been finishing up summer work for next year, catching up with friends and planning for tomorrow night. What is tomorrow night, you ask?

Why, the Taylor Swift concert, of course! I'm going with my best friend to see Taylor Swift perform in Philly tomorrow night, so if you're there . . . comment on this post, I guess, and let me know what you thought of the show afterwards!

While Taylor is my favorite singer, I must say I'm nearly as excited for the opening act, Hunter Hayes. The boy who can play over thirty instruments, had an album at 7 years old and can write the cutest songs I've heard. Think Hunter's cute?

Yeah, I know. He's such a cutie! If only I had the money to get the V.I.P. access and actually meet him before the show . . . I can wait, though. He'll be such a star that he'll have his own tour soon enough.

In other news, J. K. Rowling's newest Potter addition, Pottermore.com was opened nearly a week ago. Anyone who was hoping for early registration could go on Pottermore at certain times of the day and unlock clues where you'd have to answer a question and find the Magic Quill. I was lucky enough to get on yesterday, so if you will be joining me on Pottermore before it's public release in October, look for LightScale212!

If you're sitting there, panicking about how you forgot to register . . . you have one more day! Clue 7 is said to be the easiest of the clues, seeing as they went down in difficulty through the week. I wish you luck and hope to see you on the site when I get on! :D

Hope to see some of you at the concert or on Pottermore! I bid you farewell for now!

WE THE KINGS =D

Yep, I'm a shameless fan-girl. Bite me.




Or, you know, please don't. I don't like to be bitten by strangers. Rabies scare me.



Anyway, the title of my blog post is due to the fact that I am going to see We The Kings, Hot Chelle Rae, Downtown Fiction and a few other bands in concert tonight with two of my friends. I'm super excited.

So, I'm going to the concert, yadda yadda ya. I decided that even though it's a Thursday, I'll post a music video for you. This way you can see the band that I love so much! Here is We The King's song, Skyway Avenue.

So, that's all for now. I better go get ready for tonight! Have a great Thursday night and Friday, guys!

Christmas in July :)

I love July 25, because it means that Christmas is half a year away. Six months seems like a lot, but it's the months before it, too. Halloween, then Thanksgiving and then Christmas and then New Year's. Everything happens so fast around that time of year.

Today is also my little sister's birthday. She turned ten *tosses confetti into the air* It's hard to believe how much things have changed since we were little. It's still funny to see how mature (this I type while she jumps up and down, shouting at some object) she is compared to the little youngsters I babysit.

Another point to make . . . this is my 50th blog post on this blog!! I don't think I've ever made it that far before. Well, I have to go and get ready to go out to dinner but I just thought I'd let my 18 followers know what's up in the life of this rambling writer.

'Mazing Music SUNDAYS

I've noticed a lot of bloggers do "Music Mondays" . . . Well, that's all fine and dandy, but I'd like to be different and do 'Mazing Music Sundays for all of you.

My reasons:


~Sunday's supposed to be a day of rest in some religions, so what better way to rest than to listen to some music?

~You can listen to music all throughout the week that you found here!

~Mondays are busy for me.

So there you have it. I'll post the music video (or a fan made video if there isn't an official video) and you can hear new music. This week's song is 'Before I Let You Go' from Colbie Caillat's newest album, All of You.



It's a really cute song, and it made me smile because I've felt this way about different guys. I'm sure you can relate to it somehow.

Well, I'm off to bandage up my toe, seeing as I just tripped and messed my nail up pretty good >.< Adios, bloggers!

Harry Potter

I saw the last movie of Harry Potter on July 15th, but I've been thinking more and more about it. There are so many things I want to know about what happens after the end. I'd love if J.K. Rowling continued with a series about any of the children (especially Lupin's son) or went back and did a novel on Snape and Lily's romance.

By the way, I don't think either of the things I mentioned above spoil anything. If you haven't seen the movies or read the books, don't look at my pictures though, cause they have spoilers.

Here are two collage-sort things I made for two of my favorite couples ever.

How can you not love these couples? They're adorable and so romantic. Seriously, I think they completed the series in such a great way. I don't care what people say, they're my favorite until the end of time.

So, there is my little flashback for the day, my love for Harry Potter. I think I'm going to go and reread the series now. Adios!

I've been thinking . . .

I promised that, soon, you'd get another message from yours truly about life, love and all that other stuff. I've been thinking about it, and I know what I want to say. What I want you guys to hear and pay attention to . . .

So, we've all had our hearts broken. Maybe your "true love" dumped you via text message (been there, done that) or your best friend left you when the going got tough. Or, maybe, you lost a loved one, like a parent or sibling. We've all gone through storms and showers, right?

I'll tell you all what I've told countless friends and relatives. These are all my honest opinions. If you don't like it or agree with it, then fine. Go ahead and leave. I won't chase you down.

It's all right to cry. Let it out. Crying won't make you less strong or immature. If you don't cry, it'll all just build up inside of you until you have to bubble over. Don't let it get to that, because it usually ends with more problems than what you started with. Believe me, I've been there before.
If you lost your friend (not due to death, sickness or any of that sort) you need to ask yourself if it's worth it to try and patch things up. Sometimes, you realize that things just weren't working out. Adults and counselors try to tell you to make it work, sort things out . . . what if it isn't worth it? What if the friendship was toxic? Just hurting you and breaking you down? If it was, let it go. Move on and come out stronger. Don't let it tear you apart and eat at you.

For those of you who had someone die . . . I lost my grandparents (only two, not all four) within a year of one another, and I didn't even know my grandmother. It was tough. I saw the difference between losing someone you knew like the back of your hand and losing someone who was never around. My best friend lost her dad when we were only eleven or so in a freak accident. My advice for you: stay with your friends. Don't listen to people who try to make you feel childish for being upset. You have a right to scream and curse and be angry at the world. (I know people say you shouldn't, but it's all right. Let it out!) And remember, refer to the first bullet.

That year-long relationship was just ended with a text, and you're feeling like crap? I know how you feel. So, I'm only fourteen. So, my longest relationship was three months. Big whoop. I've seen adults divorce, my older relative in tears over boyfriends and my friends just shatter to pieces.

1. 
   
   Your parents are getting divorced or maybe you are. The love just isn't there. Think things over, really and truly. This applies for people getting married and divorced. Think of the bad times (arguments, fights), but remember the smiles, the laughs. Sometimes, it's easier to cut ties and go your seperate ways. I'm no expert on marriage, but it's not some light thing to just do for fun. Think it over. Really.





2. Your boyfriend (I'm guessing I don't have boys following me, but if you are a guy, or have a girlfriend, then just change this post to fit your relationships) broke up with you and you're feeling lost. I've seen it before. If you don't know why they ended things, ask them. Don't sit and sulk and wait for time to start moving again. Be brave, be strong and find out what went wrong. Don't let them end things with a text saying 'it's over'. Make them talk to you. You'll regret it if you look back in a few years and remember that you just let it all slip by. Don't let that happen to you.





3. It's three A.M. and you're sitting in your room, trying to figure out why your first boyfriend just broke up with you. You were dating for over a year. He was your first everything. Your friends ran out of things to say, and you don't know where to turn. Honey, it's okay to cry. It's okay to hide under the covers and let it out. Just break down, because if you don't crack and fall apart, you can't be put back together. Remember that time will go on, more boys (or girls) will come and you will come out of this, alive. It feels like the end of the world, but remind yourself that it's all right to cry and eat ice cream until you burst. You'll need time. Broken hearts can't be fixed or made invincible. The only cure for a broken heart is time, friends and a good dose of Ben and Jerry's.

• One more thing for relationships with friends/significant others: Don't let them use you as a personal yo-yo. Some relationships are toxic and no good, to put it simply. If your "true love" keeps breaking up with you and making you wonder why you two are together, let him go. Let him realize what he lost, not what he can mess around with. If your friends keep ignoring you and leaving you out of the loop, think things over. What are you getting from them? Giving them support and respect and trust is great for them, but if they're keeping secrets and letting you just fade away, it might be time for a change.

So, there's my message for today. Friendships and love are important in life, but don't let them take over to the point of stress. You might think differently. Maybe you think people shouldn't cry and that they should just move on and say "Screw it" to the person who hurt them. Good for you. We all have opinions and that's part of mine up there. Those are the things I wish someone had said to me when I was hurting.

Well, ta-ta for now, guys! Best of luck with life, love and surviving this crazy ride.

It's raining. It's pouring.

Or it was.

It's been raining and storming the past week, on and off. At least I got to go swimming today at my friend's house. Fun time!

So, I've been reading and writing. I've been rambling and wondering. And when I remember that summer is slowly slipping away, lounging back by the pool and procrastinating my summer work a bit longer.

There's not much to say at the moment. I'll probably come back on tomorrow and update you all with a bit of inspirational quotes or a message from myself about how life goes on. (It really does, doesn't it? Who would've thought?) For now, I'll tell you all that I'm going to be changing some things on my blog. A background, the music . . . I don't know. We'll see. :)

Au Revoir!

Two Reviews for the Price of One!

So, I picked up a book in the bookstore a few weeks ago and didn't get around to reading it. When I was in the tiny book store at my local mall a week or so ago, I saw the sequel. It was hardcover, and I didn't want to spend the outrageous twenty bucks. But because it had been scuffed a little on the corners, it was marked down to $4.00! I bought it and decided to read both books. So, here's a double review for you guys.
Expect another one coming as soon as I get my hands on the last book! Also, guys, sorry there's no pictures! It's not letting me post them at the moment. :( I'll post pictures of the cover in my next post if it lets me!

Title: The Summer I Turned Pretty

Author: Jenny Han

Summary: Belly (Isabel) measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.


Stars: 4

Rate: 7


Pros: This book had really cute scenes that made me want my own summer romance, and I loved Belly's flashbacks of the past summers. The characters were all different and unique in their own special ways. I loved Jeremiah. He sounded so sweet!

Cons: Belly was a hard narrator to relate to at points, because she was immature. She had a selfish vibe that stayed throughout the story. While it was somewhat annoying, I got used to it and managed to move past it.

Overall Recommendation: This book is a good summer read for when you're sitting on the beach or on the plane ride to Florida. The story does have emotional, deep parts that may require some tissues, if you're like me. It was good story, though, overall.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Title: It's Not Summer Without You

Author: Jenny Han

Summary: Belly, 16, lives all year for her summers at Cousins Beach. But when a family friend dies and the beach house tradition is threatened, she faces the season without her second family and without the boy she loves. In this follow-up to The Summer I Turned Pretty , Belly is still reeling from all that's happened since last summer. But mourning is even harder since Conrad has shut down, refusing to talk to Belly or anyone else. When he suddenly leaves school without explanation, his brother, Jeremiah, recruits Belly to help find and mend him. The trio find themselves at Cousins Beach after all, and the memories and feelings of the past come flooding back. Complicated and fragile, Belly's relationships with the two young men are put to new tests as she and Conrad come to terms with their relationship, and Belly and Jeremiah begin to build a romantic bond of their own.

Stars: 4.5

Rate: 8.5

Pros: This story was a good sequel. It had the obvious scenes that made me sigh in content, and then it had the parts that made my jaw drop. I fell in love with both of the boys and quickly picked which I wanted Belly to wind up with. I think Belly's choices with the boys and other topics were realistic enough to teenagers. There were things such as death, alcohol, romance and breaking rules . . . things that all people go through sooner or later.

Cons: Belly did grow up a little, and that was evident. Honestly, the only problem I had with this story was that it ended just when everything was coming together. The epilogue was confusing (as it was meant to be) and it made me feel like I was being left out of a secret, if you know what I mean.

Overall Recommendation: If you liked the first book, read this one. It was a good sequel and we all know we want to know which boy Belly falls in love with this time around.

Delirium

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

"I love you. Remember. They cannot take it."

That quote is possibly the quote for the entire book. I've never been so enticed with a book, so determined to keep reading, keep learning. I have no idea whatsoever how I'll wait until the next book comes out. It'll take a SWAT team to hold me down when it goes into stores.

Characters: I loved Lena as the story-teller. She reminded me of myself, with how paranoid she can be or how nervous. Lena really matured during the story in different ways, and I think it added to the reality of it all for teenagers and younger adults. Alex was mysterious and such a great character. I would say more, but it could give away too much. I loved Lena's family and friends, because they were all so different and had such a great impact on Lena, as a person and the way she lived.

Plot/storyline: This story was really original, and I loved how much work went into the backstory and how the world came to be like it was. The Wilds sounded so amazing. It made me wonder . . . is love a curse, or a gift? Or could it be both?

Overall: I loved it. L-O-V-E. I loved the book about love being a curse. Aren't I a hypocrite? The ending was phenomenal, and I can't wait for the sequel! Keep your eyes peeled, bloggers. This book will not escape the public without a bow.

"Love: It will kill you and save you, both"

The Apocalypse O.O

So, I'm sure any fellow inkies know about the changes going on for the website these next few days. The site's down, which means more free time to write and blog for me :D If you do go to the site, there's a pretty little countdown button with the days, hours, minutes and seconds until inkpop comes back with all of its new orange flashiness. (I don't approve of watching the timer click away the seconds. It makes you dizzy)

I know I'm feeling a little lost without my inkie friends. If you wanna word war or just chat it up, you can go to this website made by fellow inkie, Tracy Michelle
http://chitchatinkpop.webs.com/summers.htm
It's got different chat rooms for the Summers, Procrastinators, Pink Panthers and so on.

Any summers out there, writing their InkieNoWriSum projects? The big event officially started yesterday, and I'm proud to say I wrote four chapters of Behind That Broken Smile. It should be ready for posting after the little shut down.

If anyone wants to talk to a fellow writer during these down days, feel free to email me at ashley2055@gmail.com

Toodles, for now, my fellow bloggers!