Wednesday, June 29, 2011

TLS Fics of the Week June 28 - July 4, 2011 : The Fab Four Reviews


Inside Man by Ooza
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7043140/1/
Summary: With his parole fast approaching, inmate Edward Masen is looking for
a friend. College student Bella Swan stumbles across his profile on a prison
pen-pal website. Their friendship is formed over written words, but will it
last once he rejoins her world?
Review by: La Momo

Joe Wright - awesome director of Pride&Prejudice, Atonement, and a bunch of other epic flicks - maintains that letters are very uncinematic and can slow down the pace of a narration. While this is true for movies, where letters can be burdensome and tricky to render, literature has thrived for centuries on the genre; the main reason being that letters and replies are the most direct way to bring two distinct voices and points of view into a narration, and grant each main character the limelight they deserve.

This latest fanfic effort from Ooza is just an example of that - two characters that live separate lives because of their circumstances come into contact via letters, and their closeness blossoms with every message.
Bella is a psychology major and decides to enrol in a programme that involves corresponding with inmates of various state penitentiaries who have expressed the wish of having outside correspondents by posting their profiles to a website. Her choice falls on one Edward Masen.
A guarded, but frequent correspondence ensues. Bella's letters are light-hearted but supportive and caring. Edward is also guarded, but for a set of wholly different reasons. Their closeness grows and gets more endearing with every letter.
The Inside Man becomes the Inside Friend, who might become the Outside Friend, since Edward will be up for parole soon. As his mind is burdened with material problems such as finding shoes and money and avoiding fights, he slowly opens his heart to Bella, and starts to rely on her more and more with every letter. Bella is still cautious but can't remain unaffected by this man and his troubles. When he finally breaks down, she agrees to visit him.
Monday's update portrayed Bella's visit with Edward at Waterview penitentiary. A very emotional, intense encounter. Both break down - Edward because he can finally reach out and find a supportive shoulder and a loving hug, Bella because, again, she is more affected by this man than she thought she'd be.

It is never easy to achieve in a fanfic a distinct voice for two characters as diverse as Bella and Edward are, but Ooza is doing this to perfection. Bella's writing is more playful, cautious but loving, helpful but not prying, respectful but eager at the same time. She cracks jokes - that lighten up the atmosphere and occasionally send Edward into a tailspin.
Edward holds back all the time - because of his past, because of where he is, because he has learned to live without hope, until...until Bella barges into his life. And there, everything he has denied himself becomes a necessity - writing to her, learning to open up, waiting for her letter, wanting to know everything about her. He keeps most of his emotions in check throughout his letters, and then......his curiosity and his walls just crumble, in the space of a few words. He is, of course, rough around the edges, but wins you immediately over with his.....overwhelming cuteness.
Yes, I called him cute. How else would you define PS's like these?

p.s. What do you do for fun?
p.s. What is your favorite food?
p.s. What do you look like?
p.s. When is your birthday? You don't have to tell me exactly. Maybe just the month or the season it's in.
p.s. Why did you pick me?
p.s. How far did you make it before you read this?
p.s. Do you think someday we could be real friends?
p.s. Will you visit me? I can't do this alone anymore. I need someone.

This makes me thing most forcibly of a Beatles' song that says...."PS I love you".....Wondering how long before we get a PS like that?



Once Upon a Desire by bornonhalloween
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6814757/1/Once_Upon_A_Desire
Edward's discovery of Bella's hidden cravings changes everything. Will she give up what seems to be the right choice and give in to her heart's true desire? A modern day, twisted D/S Cinderella story told in alternating BPOV and EPOV drabbles. Twilight - Rated: M
Review by: jaimearkin
  


Do NOT let the chapter count on this story scare you away. The chapters are actually drabbles and at just over 13k words at the time I’m writing this, no longer than a one-shot.  This story was recommended to me and I immediately screamed “I don’t read anything over 25 chapters!” to which I was promptly told to shut up and read it.  I’m so glad I listened.  Now… when I say drabble, I don’t mean “a crummy short chappy that isn't going to satisfy your inner reading demon” (thanks Mzb) I mean short, intense, fulfilling pieces of a story that is as intriguing as hell!

The prologue is the perfect synopsis of this tale:


Once upon a time, there was a beautiful sales executive whose daddy was CEO of Swan Enterprises, making Bella the de facto princess of the realm.

Bella was promised to a handsome and decent man named Jasper Whitlock, who treated her kindly and fulfilled her needs in every single way, except one.
  
Meanwhile, there was an unfortunate lad of intense personality and copper hair who toiled away in the bowels of the company's IT Department, hoping one day to find a willing flesh and blood girl to share his decadent desires.
  
One day, during a tedious internet security review, Edward stumbles upon a discovery that changes everything.
  
This is their tale.

Drabbles, told in alternating points of view pull you in, each day’s posting teasing you about what will come next.  Bella is in a loving relationship where she feels unfulfilled and unhappy.  What happens when Edward, the company’s IT guy finds out about her e-rotica account?  Can Isabella trust Edward who now knows her deepest and darkest secrets?  She is banking on it and so is he.  What makes this story even more unique is that our dear Isabella writes erotic fanfiction where she lives out the fantasies she thinks she can’t in her real life.

Applying my algorithm to her hard drive, I am rocked back in my chair by the results:

^ 12:30 Google Search- BDSM Photos
The Holy Grail, the intimate yearning of the heiress to the throne, reveals itself to my greedy eyes. My heart beats wildly as entries fill my screen-
^ 12:35 bdsmgallery. com
^ 12:36 Submissive Photo Gallery
^ 12:55 e-rotica. com/ log-in screen/
She's no occasional visitor. "This is almost too easy," I think giddily, planning to retrace her every click.
^ 1:03 Publish_chapter/OnMyKnees/storyid_e638237/04/
"Oh, you dirty, dirty princess."

Enter Black Velvet. 

[BlackVelvet ] omk- First Surrender is a provocative and well-written debut. Being a specialist in initiating newbies, I salute your characters' intelligence, mutual respect, and seductive language. Your dialog poignantly reveals a level of shared trust essential to every worthwhile D/S experience. In a word, you get it. I WILL be back for another taste of your delicious imagination. ~BV

  
Holy shit- a specialist in initiating newbies? Heat rushes to my lady parts. Giddy with his compliments, I visit BlackVelvet's profile. No stories, what a shame. I reply, then wait on the edge of my seat for his next message.

As a reader, we know Black Velvet and Edward Cullen are one in the same, but Isabella has no clue, and the discussions between the two are riveting, and the guilt and temptation she feels are palpable.  Each drabble pulls you in wondering if she’ll ever put two and two together.  But Edward has a plan…

*PM*BlackVelvet:Attagirl, omk! I must admit, I'm crestfallen not to have a chance at you myself.

*PM*OnMyKnees:Sir: I'll confess the same. Who knows, if this guy disappoints…?
*PM*BlackVelvet:Please believe me when I say this- I truly hope he doesn't. You deserve your HEA. ~BV
*PM*OnMyKnees:Thanks for everything, Sir!
  
BlackVelvet signs off, understanding full well he's just been effectively dumped for Edward Cullen. BV's momentary setback is eclipsed by EC's enormous gain.

My favorite stories leave me wanting more and more and more... and bornonhalloween does exactly that.  Each drabble leaves me looking for that next button even thought I know it isn’t there yet.  For something creative and well written, head over to Once Upon a Desire now! BOH updates daily… though, I hear she’ll be going on vacation, (I’m dreading not getting anything those days) and it's the perfect time for you to join in.  This story is addicting and like me, you’ll be waiting for each and every update!



Sideline Collision by Nolebucgrl
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6749059/1/Sideline_Collision
A cocky QB runs into a snarky band geek. What happens when they collide on and off the field? Rated M for language and lemons. Let The Games Begin public vote winner!
Twilight - Rated: M
Review by: LaMomo and Edmazing Cullen

I might start with a disclaimer in block capital letters that, when it comes to Nolebucgrl and any products of her pen / keyboard, I AM FREAKING BIASED.
So this review should be taken with a pinch of salt. Expect huge quantities of fangirling.

With First&Ten just wrapped up (officially, we still have outtakes) yesterday, Words With Friends progressing nicely, this little ditty with only four chapters in managed, I admit, to fly under my radar for a while, until two words riveted my attention: "CockyBack" and "Nerd".
CockyBack is none other than Edward Cullen, Quarterback of the Seminoles, home team of the University of Florida at Tallahassee.
The Nerd, for a change, is Bella - sassy oboe player of the college marching band. She might be a nerd, but she's not a prude, nor is she afraid of her own shadow.
These two might live on two different galaxies, but after a most victorious game, they literally COLLIDE into each other. Rather, Edward collides against Bella, breaking the reed of her oboe.
Bella insists he replaces it. Edward is having none of that, and he is not complimentary at all of her musical skills. He is the star of the stadium - who gives a rat's ass about the inconspicuous oboe player in the marching band?

Check our a couple of....self-explanatory quotes from CockyBack:

"Fine, then. Nobody is coming to hear your mad oboe playing skills, Reed Girl. I doubt that anyone could pick out the damn oboe amongst all the rest of the instruments, whereas, they can surely pick me out of a crowd."
"Yeah, because you have the biggest head." She smiled in triumph and her whole face lit up with it. I stared at her for a few moments before the insult sank in.
"I have the biggest something, sweetheart, but it isn't my head." I grinned at her, letting that one land.
Her eyes flew to my dick, which made it harden underneath my towel. Her mouth opened in a little 'o' of surprise and I thought about shoving my dick in there. She had a pretty mouth and it would be a very satisfactory way to shut her the fuck up.
"How do you know? Are you gay? Do your teammates know that you're checking them out?" Yeah, she really needed to work on shutting the fuck up. Maybe there was a way.
"This is how I know." I whipped my towel off and dropped it at my feet. Her face turned bright red and she started to breathe heavily. "And I am most certainly not gay, as you can see. Unless you're actually a guy. From the neck down, it's impossible to fucking tell."

So yes - we're in a locker room. Again. With a half-naked, sweaty quarterback. Again. With a sassy, slightly nerdy, fly-under-the-radar Bella. Again.
Does it means it's a repeat performance of another locker room scene? HELL NO!
Does this mean this actually could get old? HELL NO! AGAIN.

Bella does put out on the first date - only, this isn't technically a date. This is a one-locker room stand. And she's quite adamant about it.
What does she get out of it? Well, CockyBack for once, and replacement reeds as compensating damages.

CockyBack may think he's got her number.....BUT....Bella is not a nerd for nothing. She outsmarts him. And he wants her again. She runs and hides. He runs and finds her.

Until...the plot thickens, because her roommate is Rosalie Hale, and she is especially rude to CockyBack and protective towards Bella - and CockyBack has his own misguided theory about this:

Maybe I should be fucking insulted that she didn't want me, but since she was Reed Girl's roommate, there was probably some rule about not fucking the same guy or some damn thing. She'd want me otherwise, no doubt about it.

He is baffled. Confused. Crazed with lust. And at odds with his brother. And he thinks stealing Bella's oboe (cue the saucy puns and punch lines) might force Reed Girl (as he's dubbed her) into a corner, namely, his corner. Too bad that, once again, she outsmarts him - here are her own words:

"Because you want to see me again. So, I'll see you when you decide to return it. Goodnight, Edward." And just like that, she was gone. How the fuck had she managed to turn the tables on me again? And more importantly, how was I going to get her back? Wednesday night, it was on.

CockyBack is baffled. And speechless.

Three words: WE. WANT. MORE. (and probably even CockyBack does, but he still doesn't quite know of "what" he wants more...)




We Were Here by Lola Pops
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6562901/1/We_Were_Here
Upon waking, there's a brief, blissful period in which you don't yet recall the sins of the night before, but eventually, you have to open your eyes. I'm Bella Swan, seventeen years old, cheerleader. This morning I woke up in the wrong bed. Twilight - Rated: M

Review by: MzB

Regardless of if you know anything about tagging or the lifestyle that revolves around it…. You NEED to read We Were Here.

Now we all know that I am the happy go lucky, unable to read a word of angst, spunky kid. But this story stole my heart… and maybe even my soul.

Lola-pops has a way with words and an all around amazing knack for writing that I can’t even do justice of describing.

The story starts with BPOV:

I know by the t-shirt hanging from the desk chair whose room this is. Whose bed this is.
Oh, fuck.
The images start to slow and linger in my vision, which is so much worse, because I have a chance to process the alternating waves of arousal, confusion and guilt. Mostly guilt.
"Oh, fuck." I whisper it out loud this time.
He shifts behind me, sitting up. Rolling cautiously onto my back, I peek up at him. He rubs his eyes, elbows resting on his knees, the sheet barely covering parts of him that I've now seen...touched...kissed. I want to reach over and run my hands down his taut stomach, over the muscles in his arms.
It doesn't escape my notice that he doesn't smile when he looks down at me.
I sit up, leaning back against the exposed brick next to him and clutching the sheet to my chest. We don't speak. Early morning light begins to hit the building tops outside of his window.
I try to orient myself in the present, like I've just been momentarily waylaid from my set path. I have to cheer at a game tonight, my uniform is at home and I have a Chemistry test third period.
And I fucked Edward Cullen.
Then, even though I'm thinking of that thing he did with his tongue, I'm also thinking of holding his face in my hands as I look into his eyes, inches apart while I move on top of him, his breath hitting my lips. Barely touching. The kisses...fuck. I need to stop.

Now honestly… who wouldn’t want to wake up in Edward Cullen’s bed? Well, If you read on you find out why neither one of them is smiling or going for round 2.

Yes, this is a high school/college story but that doesn’t hinder the maturity of the story. These characters go through hell and back and still manage to come out okay on the other side (or so I hope since I’m still patiently awaiting an update *cough cough*)

His shoulders slump. We both know too well what this means. For the group of cops that make up the graffiti squad, finding a well-known writer's sketchbook is a rare gift. It's like a murder investigator finding a serial killer's diary. The thought of them poring over it like they can understand me through those pages makes me feel sick…naked. At least I didn't drop my wallet. I took the time to check for that while we ran. It's a small comfort now, though. It's only a matter of time until they have a name.
I know Jake won't talk. He would rather do time than rat any of us out. I would do the same for him, or any of these guys. I have. The thought makes my jaw set, and I've never felt more criminal than in that moment. I would put this first. Fuck, I do put this first. My breath stutters when I think of Esme...and Bella.

You find a back story for Edward that literally made me cry, but it still doesn’t excuse his life choices.

I think what I love most about this story is how Rose and Emmett are more important to the story line than Alice or Jasper… Yet both Alice and Jasper are required to understand why everything is happening the way it is.
I know I’m not making much sense but I don’t want to give away the amazing plot and back stories that this fic has running through it.

I give this story 32728094578904270 thumbs up. If you’re not reading it, you better be running to do so now!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Meet the Poll - what we're reading in TLS this week:

A Slow Boil by kts
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7052343/1/A_Slow_Boil
Bella's an exchange student hoping to find a job to keep herself employed for the summer so that she can stay on at an exclusive University. Her best job prospect is a part-time housekeeping position with one Mr. Cullen. Twilight - Rated: M

Bronze by mothlights
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6391069/1/BRONZE
Edward is a rebellious newborn lashing out at those who try to help him. At his wit's end, Carlisle asks Isabella, the woman who was once his mentor, to take Edward in until his bloodlust cools. ExB Very AU - COMPLETE  Twilight - Rated: M

Coincedental Major by m7707
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6709135/1/Coincidental_Major
A tale about a hockey-playing boy who loves his girl. This is Edward's story from Major Misconduct. Twilight - Rated: M

Comfortable by Aidanmomma
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6784356/1/Comfortable
"Until you let yourself be truly uncomfortable, you can't reap the joys of being truly comfortable." Twilight - Rated: M

Crawl by TeamBella23
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6603655/1/Crawl
"My life is a circus run by drooling babies, crying, and sex with Smella. But do you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way." A Closer/ California Waiting novella. AH/AU rated M
Twilight - Rated: M

Doctor's Orders by mybluesky
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6107382/1/Doctors_Orders
Nurse Swan vows to never date a doctor, presuming them all to be egotistical jerks. But will she change her mind when she starts a new job and meets the handsome Dr. Cullen, or will his advances only strengthen her resolve? AH, OOC, Rated M

En Pointe by GingerWombatkat
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6307582/1/En_Pointe
For Beyond the Pale: The treaty left Bella his slave, but serving a vampire who demands perfection is a challenge. BxE VERY DARKWARD, Mature content, read at your own risk.
Twilight - Rated: M

Hallett Hall by Jaxington
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6446703/1/Hallett_Hall
On our first night away at college, Bella Swan, thinking the room was her own, drunkenly stumbled into my bed. She was broken and I wanted to fix her. I loved her for four years before she left. Never did I expect her to come back, but she surprised me.
Twilight - Rated: M

Human Sexuality 101 by rbsschess 
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6448365/1/Human_Sexuality_101
Prof. Cullen wonders if he has found his next submissive in his Human Sexuality class, but she has been right before him for years unnoticed. He finally sees her but will it be too late? My entry for the It Ain't All About Love & Sex Short Story Contest Twilight - Rated: M

In the Shadow of Your Heart by BellaFlan
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6627204/1/In_the_Shadow_of_Your_Heart
Edward didn't mean to kidnap Bella and hold her hostage, but she holds a secret that could destroy his family. Lucifer was an angel too, and love isn't always wholly benevolent. Vamp AU, B/E, Romance/Horror  Twilight - Rated: M

Mix Up by The Irish Cullen
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6866080/1/Mix_Up
What happens when two very busy people send two clueless people to pick up their babies from daycare? Bella Swan and Edward Cullen are in for a rough day but it may just have some nice repercussions. R&R please, includes Mom-bitchella and Daddyward
Twilight - Rated: M

Ninety Days by samrosey
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6553051/1/Ninety_Days
She physically aches from the look in his eyes as he talks about his life, a world away from them. Money be the blame and the solution, ultimately meaning a ticket to her land. Forever. If you could help him, would you? AH. Edward and Bella  Twilight - Rated: M

Pinky Promise by Kharizzmatik
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7068944/1/Pinky_Swear
Bella always knew she loved her best friend, but it isn't until she finds out he's engaged that she remembers just how much. How far will she go to make him see he's marrying the wrong woman? A story about finding your heart and losing your head. AH E/B Twilight - Rated: M

Sincerely, Sargeant Masen by 2carm2carm2
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6458809/1/Sincerely_Sergeant_Masen
One bored night, Bella goes online and stumbles across an American's soldier's profile. On a whim she decides to write Sergeant Masen a letter. She never thought she would get a response back from Iraq, much less fall in love with a man in combat boots.
Twilight - Rated: M

Slaves to the Moon by Skeezon
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6776738/1/Slaves_to_the_Moon
Self-destructive Bella is barely existing when she encounters a troubled, mysterious Edward. They share a past she can't remember and a love he can't forget. Join them as they find each other and escape the hell that follows. Twilight - Rated: M


The Perfect Girl by Mina Rivera
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5824255/1/The_Perfect_Girl
AU/All Human. He doesn't believe in love and romance. She lives in a life without the love she so desperate searches for. Can an aristocrat and a painter find love at first sight? ExB. Rated: M - cause you never know when a lemon writes itself.Twilight - Rated: M

Voice for Me by PachasPickMeUp
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5896974/1/Voice_For_Me
Bella and Edward come from two different worlds; one of silence and one of sound. Fiesty Bella starts school at Forks High and turns jaded Edward's world upside down. Can they find their own voice through true love? AH, Canon pairing, and "M" for lemons!
Twilight - Rated: M

Willow by aftrnoondelight
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6795048/1/Willow
First place winner in A Christmas to Remember contest - A quaint small town. A horse named Willow. Two lonely lovers. These are the ingredients of a DIVINE holiday romance.
Twilight - Rated: M

Words Like Art by ltlerthqak 
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7060917/1/Words_Like_Art
Every open door offers the chance of a great story. Ours started with a slip of pink paper...
Twilight - Rated: T

Yesternight by Pastiche Pen
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5732894/1/Yesternight
A trip to Mexico leaves Carlisle and Edward captured by Maria's coven. Edward wants to hate Jasper, the coven's lieutenant, but... emotions are not -his- talent. Slash. AU. Twilight - Rated: M

Thursday, June 23, 2011

TLS Fics of the Week June 21 - 27, 2011: The Fab Four Reviews: NEW REVIEW FOR The Elusive Mr. Cullen is up!



The Elusive Mr. Cullen by dariachenowith
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6972004/1/The_Elusive_Mr_Cullen
Bella is a high class escort, Edward her newest client. They soon realize that there's more between them than great sex and witty conversations. While Bella doesn't believe in fairy tales, her life seems to be turning into one fast. Or is it? AH/OOC Twilight - Rated: M


Review by: prassacut
Here is the author summary: Bella is a high class escort, Edward her newest client. They soon realize that there's more between them than great sex and witty conversations. While Bella doesn't believe in fairy tales, her life seems to be turning into one fast. Or is it? AH/OOC
One of the things I love about this story is the characters.  You won’t find one self-conscious, shy or self-doubting character in The Elusive Mr. Cullen, and they’re all interesting. 
Take the female characters, for example: Bella Swan, Esme Platt (Edward’s friend and mentor) and Rosalie (Bella’s Madame), are all no-nonsense, direct-to-the-point women. They are bluntly honest,  confident about who they are, and have strong personalities. Simply put, they kick ass. If you lack confidence, they’re going to make you wet your pants with only a glare. Sometimes when I read a chapter, they scare me. I love it!   
Who’s Bella Swan? She’s a high-class whore, and she loves it. Yes, she does. She loves the attention, the sex, the hours, and the fact that she earns more money in a week than you make in a month. Shallow? No. She’s clever, witty and has a strong sense of self-worth.  She has a good education, an equally good upbringing, and she chooses to do what she does because she enjoys it. Bella sees herself as a sort of therapist, because if the body is happy, more often than not the soul is, too.  Of course, everything isn’t flowers and rainbows all the time. Some of her clients aren’t so great, and she has bad days. Her job keeps her from being close to people, like friends or a boyfriend, but until she meets Mr. Cullen, the pros of her lifestyle overpower the cons.
And Edward Cullen?  He is driven, smart, very successful and loaded. He shares Bella’s love of witty comebacks, and getting straight to the point.  He can also read people rather accurately.
Edward and Bella hit it off at their first appointment. They both enjoy each other’s directness, and share a similar sense of humor. They can talk about anything, and being educated and well-read, always have something interesting to say. As their relationship evolves, Bella starts to rethink her lifestyle, but they always talk things through and speak their minds. When there’s a problem they discuss it, usually while  one gently bashes the other, if possible, because that’s how they are. It makes the whole story so fun to read because you know neither of them will accept the other’s shit. 
The secondary characters makes this story all the more interesting. Esme Platt is an intriguing and powerful woman. I can’t help but cheer for her each time she appears. Her husband, Carlisle Platt, is the poster boy for castrated husbands, seeking to gain what little power he can where he can; Rosalie has enough life experience to know better and James - Edward’s butler - is wonderfully snotty and rude.
Dariachenowith’s characters don’t give excuses for who or what they are; it’s refreshing and delightful.

"Can I ask you how your week was?" he suddenly breaks the silence, dividing his attention between me and the road just long enough to beam a boyish smile at me.
"You don't strike me as the kind of man who is used to having 'can not' as part of his vocabulary," I shoot back.
As expected that turns his smile into a wide grin, and he briefly inclines his head.
"True, but even when you're a cold hearted bastard you try to appear to have manners sometimes. Let me rephrase my question then, do you mind me asking how your week has been since last we met?"
I like his slightly sarcastic sophisticated speech, yet as he decided to stay vague, so do I.
"Of course not, but I'm afraid my recount will bore you. Contrary to popular belief, an escort's life is not all glamour and excitement all the time."
"No? You break my heart."
"Only on weekends."
(TEMC Chapter 5.)

I have read almost all of dariachenowith’s stories, and I love them to pieces. I love that they can stand alone without any Twilight connection and still be riveting. Each time she starts one I know I’ll be in for a great ride. When I started thinking about what I was going to write in this review, the first thing that came to my mind was “Nothing is ever as it seems with dariachenowith” but I came to the conclusion that I was wrong. Mind fuck? That she does - extremely well - and she’ll surprise you every time, I can assure you. But the thing is, it’s all there for anyone who wants to see. You might not get the hows or the whys until she decides it’s time, but if you pay attention everything is there; what you read is always what you get.
If you’re not already reading The Elusive Mr. Cullen, you’ll want to start now. The characterization makes it one of the best fics out there.  As I type this review, two-thirds of the story has been posted, and I seriously can’t wait for the last part to unfold. I’m sure dariachenowith will blow our minds.
Prassacut.



Don't You Forget About Me by 107 yr old virgin
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7048458/1/Dont_You_Forget_About_Me
Figuring out "Why am I here?" is hard enough on its own. Six strangers with nothing in common, except each other... and a mental hospital, have been given eight hours to figure it all out. This is the chance of their lives. AH/ExB Twilight - Rated: M

review by:busymommy

Virgy is back, and she hit the ground running! First of all, I have to say, Breakfast Club, and the song, Don’t You Forget About Me, are amongst my absolute favorites, anyway. Even if it hadn’t been a story by someone I know and love, the title alone would have pulled me in; the amazing little fic would have kept me there.

She has taken the original premise of the Breakfast Club—five strangers, sitting in a Saturday detention, with 8 hours to figure out who they are—and put a helluva spin on it. Our Six strangers are all in-patients in a mental hospital, members of the same suicide watch group therapy. Each of them have their reasons for being there, their own little quirks, and I don’t want to go into them here so as not to spoil the story, but suffice to say, certain ones made me laugh out loud. If I were to hazard a guess at who is filling in for the original characters, I’d have to say that Emmett reminds me of John (Judd Nelson), Edward of Brian (Michael C. Hall), and Jasper of Andy (Emilio Estevez). For the girls, Bella is clearly Allison (Ally Sheedy), and I see different aspects of Claire (Molly Ringwald) in Rosalie and Alice. Of course, Carlisle is a much more personable version of Mr. Vernon.

The story is told from Bella’s POV, so we hear her escapade that landed her in the hospital first. She is typical clumsy Bella, and her “accidental” suicide is a comedy of errors. Through her eyes, we see the other characters, their idiosyncrasies, and her drug-enhanced take on her fellow patients. While much is quite funny, other parts are thought provoking, much like how the original movie was.

Their doctor, Carlisle, decides to put a spin on their therapy, in an effort to get them to open up more.

 "For the next eight hours, you'll sit here with your peers and try to get them to open up to you. I want you to describe to me, in detail, exactly what you've learned about one another by the end of the day. Why are you here? Lunch will be served to you right in this very room, so you won't need to leave. The bathrooms are available to you, as well as the balcony for you to smoke on." He eyes each of us carefully. "You're responsible for one another today. And don't for a second think that I won't be watching. I'm just a shout away if you need anything. Otherwise, we begin …" he glances up at the clock above the Librarian's desk and we all hold our breath as the skinny black hand hits the six, signaling nine-thirty, "now." With another smile, he turns and retreats through our only portal of escape.

Starting with that, the third chapter, the story becomes time blocks out of the day-long group therapy session. We are introduced to the characters through their personal stories, when they begin to open up to each other. Each of their stories are poignant, drawing you deeper into each one’s history.

At only eight chapters in, we have the summarized versions of why they are there, some interesting goings-on in the bathroom resulting in a broken sofa (similar to a certain broken headboard perhaps), and a plan is afoot to make an escape. Will they succeed? Your guess is as good as mine, but knowing Virgy, it will be a hell of a ride to the end.



Alphabet Weekends by the-glory-days
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4918784/1/Alphabet_Weekends
Bored with their dismal love lives, best friends Edward and Bella come up with the idea of exploring the world of sex using the alphabet for the next twenty-six weekends. What happens when things go from two friends having fun to something serious? AH OOC

review by: MzB

My two good friends M3 and SueBee rec’d this fic to me over and over and over. After reading it, I can completely understand why. These lemons are definitely fit for TLS!

BATTERIES NOT REQUIRED BUT DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED!

What would you do if your best friend of twenty or so years asked you to play a sex game since both of your sex lives were non-existent?
Make some rules and get started? Well that’s what The-Glory-Days had her characters do.

"We should have never done this! I knew this would fuck everything up," Bella chastised, as Edward just stared blankly at her from across the bed.
They had set up the rules, she had implemented them—she had been the one to really enforce them strictlybut damn it all to hell, the rules were meant to be broken.
"What do you want me to say Bella? I have no fucking clue what you want me to say, so please…please don't act like I'm the bad guy! You were just a much a part of this, as I was. You agreed from the very beginning. I'm not the only one at fault here."
Bella wailed as she grabbed at the roots of her hair, muttering, "I knew it, I knew this would happen."
"There's only one letter left, Bella. Let's just finish what we started. After that, will see what happens," Edward whispered, walking up to her, bumping his shoulder with hers, trying to calm her down, but it didn't work; she was unbelievably tense.

The questions you start asking yourself while reading are: Would I be able to do this? Are they serious? Why no kissing? Who in their right mind would be able to stay friends?
Or at least that’s what I was asking myself throughout the entire fic.

Of course being the Emmett lover that I am… I have to congratulate The-Glory-Days on making this Emmett one of my favorites.

"Edward!" Emmett shouted into the phone, and Edward was taken aback from the loud noise, and held the phone away from his ear.
"Was that entirely necessary?" Edward chastised as Emmett chuckled loudly over the phone.
"Of course it was. Everything I do has a purpose," Emmett reasoned. This time Edward made a loud, disapproving sound into the phone.
"I'm sure. Care to enlighten me?"
"Oh, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Emmett commented before Edward grunted to let him know that he was in no mood, and that he should hurry up.
"Emmett. Say what you have to, and let me be."
"Fine, fine. Care to explain what it is that Rose tells me about you and Bella?"
At the moment, Edward felt like the world had just spun off its axis. He was so blindsided by the comment, that he nearly missed the bed when he went to sit down.
"What do you mean?" he asked apprehensively. He didn't want to give anything away if Emmett in fact didn't know.
"Don't play coy with me little brother. You know damn well what I'm talking about. Since when have you two started fucking?"
Edward shouldn't have been shocked by that statement but he was.
"What exactly has she told you?"
Edward almost swore himself stupid as he heard the gasp from the other line. He knew right then and there, that he had just given himself away.
"So it's true? You two are really…" Emmett let the sentence hang until Edward confirmed it with a simple 'yes'.
"Wow. I can't believe you guys finally got your heads out of your asses and realized how much you two are practically married."

Hell I even like Rosalie in this fic…

"The guy…the one night stand, it was Edward."
"No," Bella lied. Yes, it was Edward, but it wasn't a one night stand. More like a twenty-six night stand give or take a few.
"Yes it is," Rosalie hissed. "Don't lie to me Isabella Swan. You've been in love with the man since you were children. You may not have realized it, you still may not see it, but everyone else around you does. It's ridiculous how blind the two of you are."
"Rosalie, keep your voice down," Bella pleaded, and Rosalie knew right then and there that she was one hundred percent correct.
"It really is Edward," she whispered and Bella nodded, sighing in defeat as she sat down in one of the chairs. Rosalie sat down across from her and stared at her friend, her eyes clearly expressing what she wanted to know.
"When?"
"Eight weeks ago," Bella answer. "It's nothing serious though, Rose. It's a friends with benefits thing. We have sex every weekend, and we alternate what we do. One weekend he chooses then next weekend I choose."
Rosalie stared wide-eyed not believing what was she was hearing.
"Are you stupid?" she criticized. "You just gave your best friend a hand job at my fucking dinner table and you have the nerve to tell me it's nothing serious? Bella, you're not the type of person to do that."
"You saw that?" Bella asked in shock. Her face instantly flushed red and she groaned in anguish. The night was becoming more and more embarrassing as it passed.
"Of course I saw that," Rosalie fired back. "You're just lucky that Emmett enjoys his food a little too much and Esme and Carlisle were wrapped up in each other."
"Oh god," Bella groaned, dropping her face into her hands.
"Bella, I've perfected that little dinner table maneuver with Emmett. The two of you were a little sloppy. You've gotta keep one hand on the table cloth at all times; it sways," she demonstrated moving her hands side to side.

Of course it ends with a HEA, but on the way to that there are twists and turns and lots of lemony goodness! I give Alphabet Weekends a thumbs up!

And if you can’t get enough of the original fic check out The-Glory-Days ffn.net profile for the “Missing Letters”.




The White Swan Lodge by jarkin33
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6389047/1/The_White_Swan_Lodge
Tragedy led her there. Commitment forced him there. Can a place of beauty and solitude hold the fate they were both seeking…  Twilight - Rated: M

review by: Obsmama NoPants Rules

Whispered words against heated skin, laughing in the kitchen, and stolen kisses under a blanket on the dock.  These are some of the memories that Edward and Bella make during their journey at The White Swan Lodge.  Jaime Arkin, author of Barely Breathing and co-author of many more wonderfully done stories, takes us on a journey about healing and discovery.  We meet Bella as she makes a major life transition, uprooting her entire life to take over her mother’s dream of owning and managing The White Swan Lodge after her untimely death.  We also meet Edward, a lonely travel magazine reviewer, who receives the assignment of his life.

"I'm just looking for a place to relax for a few days, get some writing done. If it's a problem, I can look for something else but I had to at least come see the place. Even the car rental clerk raved about the lodge. Well… I can see you're not ready for guests." He said as he looked over my shoulder at the paint can and brushes.

He turned to get into the Jeep and I unintentionally shouted, "No!"

"I mean, no, it's alright. You're welcome to stay here. I'd just need a few minutes to get a room ready for you."

He moved closer to me, blowing out a deep breath through his plump, perfect lips.

"Are you sure?"

Was I sure? Unconsciously, I ran my tongue along my lower lip and gazed back at him. He certainly didn't look like he'd be much trouble and I figured it might be nice to have someone to practice on. The next guests wouldn't even be there for two more weeks. Biting my lower lip between my teeth I considered the answer for a long, weighted moment. After staring into his endless green eyes, I knew I couldn't possibly say no. I would just lock my bedroom door and not tell Charlie. Ever.

"Absolutely… It won't be a problem, but you'll have to bear with me. I hope you don't mind being a guinea pig." I chuckled lightly. "I'm new at this and just getting settled in. Hope that's not a problem."

"Not at all." He smiled a reassuring smile. My heart was beating so hard, I worried he could hear it. "Like I said, I'm just looking for a place to relax, and this looks perfect."

"Grab your stuff and follow me then Mr…"

"Cullen. Edward Cullen. Please, just call me Edward though."

"Well, Edward… Welcome to the White Swan Lodge… And please, call me Bella."

As we watch two people get to know and fall in love with each other, there is a sadness and a secret that threaten to tear them apart.  Edward’s intentions behind his stay at the lodge are unknown to Bella and as they succumb to the attraction and begin to build more the unknown threatens it all.  The beauty of Jaime’s words and imagery set the scene for a romantic and enticing backdrop.  She uses imagery that really pulls you into the scene and makes the love vibrate off the page.

She forced me to step backwards until my back hit the opposite railing. Her hands found my hair and pulled my head close. She ran the tip of her tongue along my lower lip, slowly sucking it into her mouth, then nipping it before letting go. I grasped the sides of her face. The last of the setting sun cast a glow on her tear stained cheeks. Brushing over them with my thumbs, I gazed into her eyes and covered her mouth with mine. There was nothing slow about that kiss. It was deep and it was passionate. My fingers delved into her silky hair as our tongues tangled, swirled and tasted. Her sexy moans drove me on.

She pulled her hands from my hair and trailed them lightly down my chest, scraping her nails along the way. I growled in response to the pleasure and the pain. Her lips found my neck… nipping and licking. She pushed me down by my shoulders so that I was forced to sit with my back against the railing. The tightening in my jeans was almost painful. As she straddled my lap her flowing skirt fell around us. I felt her warmth against my hardness and my hips unconsciously thrusted up. I heard her gasp suddenly at the sensation. I grabbed her by the back of her neck and pulled her face towards mine again needing the closer contact. I felt her hands quickly work their way between us and find the button on my jeans and with a flick of her wrist it came undone and so did I.

This is a great read to curl up with and lose yourself in a love created in those whispered words and stolen kisses.  I was moved from start to finish and I think you will be as well.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

TLS Nursery - New Stories We Love


Welcome to the TLS Nursery. This is where we display the new babies, (stories) born within the last 30 days, that we are extremely excited about.

There is something completely thrilling and satisfying, about finding a story, right from it's beginning, knowing how wonderful it is, and will be, and watching it grow into an adult completed fic.

By visiting the TLS nursery each month, you too, can watch them grow with us! All of the stories listed below have been read and approved by TLS as great reading material.


Pinky Swear by kharizzmatik http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7068944/1/

Bella always knew she loved her best friend, but it isn't until she finds out he's engaged that she remembers just how much. How far will she go to make him see he's marrying the wrong woman? A story about finding your heart and losing your head. AH E/B Twilight - Rated: M

kharizzmatik is back and with something completely different than what you'd expect.  Can we all thank shearenvy for daring her to write this?  A story told in all BPOV it's only two chapters in and with weekly updates you'll be waiting around on Friday's just for the email alert!  Go check it out now!


Words Like Art by ltlerthqak

Every open door offers the chance of a great story. Ours started with a slip of pink paper...  Rated T

First of all do NOT let the T rating scare you... people look at me like I'm crazy when I recommend a 'T' rated fic, but to be honest I have quite a few that are among my all-time favorites and this one is joining them.  You might know ltlerthqak from Giofógach and all it's awesomeness, and she continues to pull me in with her incredible writing skill.  This story is only two chapters in and I'm hooked on doormanward.  Weekly updates on this story as it's already complete!

THE BELOW STORIES COME WITH THE TLS SEAL OF APPROVAL - go give them a read!!

Nightingale by Lady Gwynedd
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7061593/1/

Summary: Intrepid Isabella Swan leaves England to seek her destiny in the New
World as an indentured servant.  Little does she know her physical but
temporary servitude would soon lead to another kind of servitude altogether.
Not a BDSM fic, or even close to it.

To Have and To Hold by Shahula
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6956161/1/To_Have_and_To_Hold

One night of passion leads to dramatic changes for Bella as she faces the consequences. But will she fess up to their actions or keep the forbidden romance going? Is he hers to have and to hold or will he be another's before its all over? Rated M,AH,BxE Twilight - Rated: M

My Letters To You by MinnieSoleil
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7082544/1/

Heartache, bitterness and lot's of wine often lead to embarrassing, tear soaked letters. At least with Bella they do.Twilight - Rated: M

 
My Soul to Save by Cullen Concession
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6963767/1/My_Soul_To_Save

He used her, hurt her and broke her. Can she break free and let go now that her soul has been torn in two? Can a free spirit help her pick up the pieces? Warning this piece deals with the issues of abuse. Twilight - Rated: M

If This Is Love by owenic
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7045398/1/If_This_Is_Love

College student Edward Cullen sees a crying girl in the library, and his life is forever changed. Story told in alternating drabbles. Entry for the fandomsfightsthefloods compilation. AH BxE Rated M for good reason. Twilight - Rated: M  

Gull to the Wind by ineedyoursway
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7046569/1/Gull_to_the_Wind

All-consuming, irreversible love. Twilight - Rated: M

Meet the Poll: what we're reading this week in TLS

Happy Fathers Day to all of you magnificent DaddyWards out there!

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE FOR THE GIGGLE SNORT AWARDS!! Lots of wonderful fics are up for awards from FictionFreak95, Belladonnacullen, MandyLeigh, Nolebucgrl, SweetPoeticJustice, Nikita2009, and Crooked Smile is up for best reviewer!!

VOTE HERE:
CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THE GIGGLE SNORT AWARDS

Check out the stories that have us talking this week:

A Nerd Story of Love by tufano79
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7049287/1/A_Nerd_Story_of_Love
Geekward and Nerdella...two lost souls who just want love and to be loved. ExB, AH
Twilight - Rated: M

Bittersweet Irony by SweetVenom69
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5651786/1/Bittersweet_Irony
Bella and Edward's lives have been intertwined since they were born. When Edward and his parents wind up missing, Bella's world spirals out of control. What happens when she finds him years later? Twilight - Rated: M

Breaking News by WriteOnTime
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5424559/1/
Two network news anchors. One desk. In a race to get the story, love might become the headline - if they don't kill each other first. AU/AH Canon Couples, smart people, particle physics, and tap dancing. Twilight - Rated: M


Discovering You, Discovering Me by JSFazz
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5705894/1/
Edward Cullen was branded a geek and bullied every day of his life. Bella Swan was always awkward, never quite knowing where she fit in. Together they learn a bit about themselves and each other. Will they discover love as well? E/B  Twilight - Rated: M

Edward Cullen: A Work In Progress by tufano79
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6978399/1/Edward_Cullen_A_Work_in_Progress
Edward Cullen is an asshole. He's a moody musician and artist who is wary about life and is recovering from a nasty drug overdose. Emmett, his best friend, offers him an opportunity to redeem himself and work with his best tattoo artist in his shop.EXB,AH Twilight - Rated: M

Forever is a Promise You Keep by shelikesthesound
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6433878/1/Forever_is_a_Promise_You_Keep
Bella loves Edward, much more than she should. Edward is an addict,and Bella deals with it. Years of this cycle begin to take its toll, and Bella is fed up. A near fatal accident forces Edward into a coma while Bella re-examines her previous decision. Twilight - Rated: M

Inside Man by Ooza
 http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7043140/13/
Summary: With his parole fast approaching, inmate Edward Masen is looking for
a friend. College student Bella Swan stumbles across his profile on a prison
pen-pal website. Their friendship is formed over written words, but will it
last once he rejoins her world?

Just Breathe by jtmd24
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6844825/1/Just_Breathe
What happens when the man you've loved for 6 years starts to change right before your eyes? Bella is forced to question her heart when the black sheep of the family returns. In the end, will she put her trust in the right person? AR/OOC/lemons Twilight - Rated: M

L'Hotel by samrosey
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6773133/1/
"Excuse me miss, your room is ready for you now." The doors chime, alerting them to their floor number. He inserts the key card and the light flickers green. Will she enjoy her stay? Bella/Edward. AH

My Letters To You by Minnie Soleil
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7082544/1/My_Letters_To_You
Heartache, bitterness and lot's of wine often lead to embarrassing, tear soaked letters. At least with Bella they do. Twilight - Rated: M

Once Upon a Desire by bornonhalloween
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6814757/1/Once_Upon_A_Desire
Edward's discovery of Bella's hidden cravings changes everything. Will she give up what seems to be the right choice and give in to her heart's true desire? A modern day, twisted D/S Cinderella story told in alternating BPOV and EPOV drabbles. Twilight - Rated: M

Rewind by BellaMadonna
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7085512/1/Rewind
A chance meeting at a concert, Bella met & fell in love with her soul mate. What happens when her perfect weekend with a budding rock star turns out to be just a sordid weekend fling? What happens when, 5 yrs later, she comes face to face with him again? Twilight - Rated: M


Sideline Collision by Nolebucgrl 
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6749059/1/Sideline_Collision
A cocky QB runs into a snarky band geek. What happens when they collide on and off the field? Rated M for language and lemons. Let The Games Begin public vote winner!
Twilight - Rated: M


Soul to Keep by TG81
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7047107/1/Soul_to_Keep
Bella, tired of doing everything and getting nowhere decides to take the ultimate shortcut to success. She sells her soul to the devil. Will she see the error of her ways or embrace what she's done and willing reap the consequences? Twilight - Rated: M


The Drive by SuddenlySandi
 http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7025720/1/The_Drive
Edward and Bella are teamed together for the prime time radio spot, but their attraction causes problems since Bella has a dark secret she must keep from Edward. How forgiving can he be? And can she forgive herself? All Human   Twilight - Rated: M


To Have and To Hold by shahula
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6956161/1/To_Have_and_To_Hold
One night of passion leads to dramatic changes for Bella as she faces the consequences. But will she fess up to their actions or keep the forbidden romance going? Is he hers to have and to hold or will he be another's before its all over? Rated M,AH,BxE Twilight - Rated: M

We Were Here by Lola Pops
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6562901/1/We_Were_Here
Upon waking, there's a brief, blissful period in which you don't yet recall the sins of the night before, but eventually, you have to open your eyes. I'm Bella Swan, seventeen years old, cheerleader. This morning I woke up in the wrong bed. Twilight - Rated: M

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

TLS Fics of the Week June 14 - 20: The Fab Four Reviews



Meet The Masens by FictionFreak95 aka Jo
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6987169/1/Meet_the_Masens
Edward Cullen was done with cons until Marcus Volturi pulled him back in for one more job with his new front man, Bella Swan. Edward wants out for good but in a world based on deceit, who can he trust? AH BxE possible lemons if they don't kill each other. Twilight - Rated: M
Review By: Crooked Smile

In the prologue of Meet the Masens, we meet Bella pouring coffee in kitchen, a locket hanging around her neck, unaware of the man who watches her through the window. Breathing hard, enduring the pain she gives him by letting another touch. A man who gave a locket to the woman he loved, who knows how long ago.


“Leave with me”

“I can’t”

“Leave with me. Right now.”

“I can’t do that.”


The story starts with their first encounter at the airport. The instant dislike is mutual. The moment they are about to take a deep breath, happy to get rid of one another; they learn that they have to work together, because they are the best at what they do. What they don’t know is the fact that it’s a match made in heaven.


"Did ya really have to kick me with the fucking heels on?"

"Maybe if you found a way to take your head out of your ass, you'd hear me the next time I ask you to turn…thefucking…air down….then I wouldn't have to kick you."

"Oh I heard you," I told her, creeping up next to her like I was telling the horror story that had become my life. "I just wasn't listening to you." Trying not to, anyway. "Because your voice... makes my goddamn ear drums... want to bleeeeeeed."

I was getting twitchy. I hate twitchy. So I backed off, finally.

"God. You are such an asshole."

"Takes one to know one, lady," I advised her as I rubbed at the bruise I no doubt had on my shin.


The knee-jerk reaction Edward gets from me is the want of kicking him hard and fucking him silly. Not at the same time but without a pause in between, if possible. The fucker is irresistibly funny. He lives on the high of irritating Bella. He knows how to get under her skin and does that a lot, ‘cause he can’t get into her pants. Yet.


"I call the master!"

Bella screamed from somewhere, and I thought about how completely appropriate it was that she'd just assume she was head of the household. I actually had to shake my head at her complete control freak persona. She really needed to lighten up a little.

"Lady who wants to suckmydicksayswhat?" I yelled back, and she said, "What?" causing me to squint my eyes shut and silently laugh at how easily she'd fallen for that old trick.

I chuckled some more. "Bitchandahalfsayswhat!"

"WHAT?"

My ribs hurt from the soundless laughter coming out of me and, to answer your question, yes, I'm that immature.

"You call the what?" I yelled out, trying to stifle the tears of joy in anxious abatement for her reply.

"MASTER!"

"Coming!" I yelled in a victorious screech, giving a good, strong fist pump into the air and she hollered back, "ASSHOLE!"


Bella is a tough chick. She wears her confidence with a high chin and fuck-me-boots. Since she is a true professional, she decides to deal with Edward’s quite unique and fairly irritating persona on her own terms, instead of just enduring it.


The movers were already at the house when I pulled into the driveway and had to take a moment or two to myself at sheer size of the house Marcus had put us into. I mean, that thing had to be at least thirty-five hundred square feet plus a three car garage, and I hadn't even seen the back yard yet.

"Holy shit."

I stepped out of Betty slowly, taking it all in. My hand lingered on the door handle a bit when I felt a much smaller hand settle on my lower back.

The sensation of goose bumps that I felt when that hand slid a little lower was unexpected and, even though part of my brain knew who it was, I still turned my head to see for myself.
Bella was smiling up at me slightly and I instinctively smiled back as she pushed up onto her tippy toes to whisper something in my ear.

Also, her chest might have made contact with mine and I might have felt my dick harden.
But only a little bit.

I turned my head a little to hear what it was she had to say, anxious for her lips to be that close to my earlobe, and yet not understanding at all what was happening to me or why I was reacting the way I was. "We're supposed to belong here, Edward, pick your jaw up off of the ground and follow me into the house before you give us away within the first two minutes."

That was all she said before her hand left and then her chest…then she just walked up the path, saying a few things to the movers, never looking back.
And the ass shaking… still nice.


The cover plan is Bella Swan fake marries Edward Cullen, they become Mr. & Mrs. Masen. And we get to Meet the Masens. The fake Masens drive each other crazy. Love to step on each other’s toes. He lovingly calls her Barbie, Bellatrix, Becka, Bianca, she calls him back Idiot, Jerk, Dick,  Asshole. The chemistry between them is like nothing we’ve seen. They can’t stand one another and they can’t help but drawn towards each other. The more they feel desperately weak against the pull, the meaner they become. Without forgetting about their professionalism and the work they have to get done, of course.

The potential of the story is so big and knowing the talent Jo possesses, I can’t wait to see where it goes. Anyone who is familiar with her other works; like Edward Cullen Dick for Hire, Cullen Unscripted, Vines, knows that her writing is so vivid, it makes the reader feel like they are looking at a painting made by mere words. All the details are in there. Nothing shades the other and nothing is out of order. No logical gaps. No detail overloads. A perfect balance. And the humor. The sense of humor she pours into her stories is self-made, coming right out of the source. This is what makes her characters smart, strong, sarcastic and so damn funny. Every update leaves me asking for more. Every answer gives us a brand new question. She manages to say a lot and still keep more hidden.

I offered to move in with her, to cook-clean-dust-organize and just let her write and write and write. She winks and smiles. We’ll just have to wait the story unfold itself on its own time.




 There Is A Light by BellaDonna Cullen
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7015642/1/There_is_a_Light
This was 1987; before the Internet, before Twitter, before Facebook – this was back when it was still possible for people not to know about things: big things - like bands, and little things - like G-spots. AH, ExB, with some other parings along the way. Twilight - Rated: M
Review By: Edmazing Cullen

Gah. How do you start a review for BellaDonna Cullen? Just in case you aren’t familiar with BDC, let me introduce her and sum her up for you real quick. She is a class act that still knows how to get down and dirty with the best of them. She is warm, supportive, funny, and well informed on current (and not so current) events. And she’s a music lover who knows her stuff. And it shows.

On top of giving you deep, descriptive stories that sweep you up and transport you, she gifts you with songs that you can hum and sway along to. Sing and decode. Live through and reminisce in.  There is a Light is a perfect display of her talent.

Bella Swan is teenage girl living in a remote town.  Without any word from the outside world except what she can glean from the kids at school. Sound extreme? Then you don’t remember 1987. And when a cute guy from another scene asks you if you know who The Masens are, what do you do? You lie. And then you rush to learn whatever you can about them.

I rushed back to Newman's right after I bought the cassette and I popped it into my Walkman and started from the beginning. I picked out as many of the lyrics as possible, and paused the music every few seconds to jot down the lines in a tiny little notebook as I took inventory in the stockroom.


I'd told Seth I knew The Masens, and I had this one tape to help me fake my way through.

The occasional falsetto was jarring, and the recording sounded fuzzy and rough and unpolished, and it all combined to make studying the lyrics really hard. Not to mention that there was some yelling and lots of unexpected tempo changes and there was mumbling, and talk of pinning and mounting and underwear and death.


I couldn't say I liked it, but I wasn't listening in order to like it. It was like an exam, and I was really good at acing exams.


The Masens quickly become more than a new genre to study and absorb. In immersing herself in their words Bella develops a camaraderie and enters into a complicated love triangle with fellow Masen aficionados, Jacob and Seth. It is soon obscured.

"You loved 'm best of all, right?" she asks, bringing the cassette tape closer to her face and scrutinizing it more intently. It's hard to tell if she's referring to the band or to Edward Cullen's picture. It hardly matters.


"Yes," I answer. "The best of all."


The story of how this came to be is told through a story by Bella to her young daughter of her favorite band.  It is filled in with a series of memories that dance around on the timeline that is Bella and Edward. It’s a story of idolization, longing, temptation, love, and heartbreak.

I’ve loved the updates and as soon as I realized there was a song connected, well, I rushed to YouTube to search There is a Light That Will Never Go Out. And just like the other songs she’s used *cough* Can You Tell *cough* that was followed by running to iTunes, listening to the sample a couple of times while I waited for it to download. And once it was on my song list I hit repeat1. I now sway, hum, sing along, loving the song and forever connecting it to this story. I try to figure out where this is going.  Only to get lost in the hook. And I spin and dream. And wait for an update. Two gifts in one, I tell you.  And so much more.

Give it a read and you'll be doing the same thing.  If that doesn’t do it for you, or even better, if it does, head to BellaDonna Cullen’s FFN author’s profile where you can find a complete list of her work, awards, banners, and important links.




Offside by Savage7289
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7036128/1/
Edward's the star keeper for the Forks High School soccer team, and is already being scouted by leagues overseas. Bella's just moved from Phoenix and interferes with his…focus. Soccerward lives! Rated M for the good stuff, of course.
Review By: Alice S. Sweettits (SweetPoeticJustice)

Should it surprise any of us that Savage7289 has done it again?  I don’t think so! Offside is yet another story by Savage that will reel you in and keep you captivated.

Offside had me hooked from the start. Edward is an egotistical asshole, star soccer player, and golden boy of Forks High School. Like a typical spoiled brat that always gets what he wants, Edward appears to have everyone and everything wrapped around his finger.  If he wants a girl he’s got it, if he is late to class the teacher has no problem with it, a ref makes what he views to be a poor call on the soccer field and with the push of a button on Edward’s cell phone the ref’s career is done and over with.

Pro Teams all over the country and the world are looking into signing him, including the well-known REAL Volturi in Italy.  Carlisle is Edward’s father, Chief of Surgery at Memorial hospital, and Mayor of Forks, Washington. Carlisle is proof that the dick didn’t fall too far from the tree and for lack of better words is a complete douchewad asshole, especially to Edward. Carlisle uses his power to runs things in town and his personal life more like a mob boss than an actual mayor.

 Edward is more than just a soccer player and womanizer; he is highly intelligent with a perfect memory to recall in great detail every moment of every day. His intelligence and his wishes to expand his interests beyond that of just soccer is not something that is not supported by Carlisle in the least. We witness Edward’s attempts at trying to hide his love for drawing, while dealing with Carlisle’s extreme disapproval over Edward taking a few AP classes at school.
The road Edward has ahead of him is not easy. His biggest obstacle comes from his father’s pressured desires for Edward to become the star soccer player that Carlisle never was. The controlling pressures of his father fuel Edward’s desire to expand his interests, and leads to constant tension between the two.

Bella is new to Forks and the daughter of its police chief Charlie Swan. Bella is a sweet girl with an underlying fire and despite Edwards numerous childish attempts to grab Bella’s attention which have always worked on the other girls of Forks high only succeeds in only pissing her off. Bella even refuses to tell Edward her name so Edward nickname’s her Rumplestilsken for obvious reasons, calling her Rumple for short. Things remain tense between the two until one night at a formal city function Edward and Bella are left alone together while their fathers take care of business and Bella witnesses a softer more vulnerable side of Edward.

Savage shows us in Offside, like she does so well in many of her other stories, how care and love can mend even the hardest of hearts. Edward may be an ass but there is a deeper, softer side to him, he is broken and there are reasons for his abominable behavior; although this does not make his behavior ok, it gives you a look into why he is the way he is.  In classic Savageward fashion you hate to love him and love to hate him, but when you begin to see what is below his pompous and self-righteous surface and witness the feelings and attributes Bella’s mere presence can evoke from him, you can’t help but care for the guy and want to mend his broken spirit. Bella’s sweetness, patience and caring along with the undeniable electrical hum and pull they feel to each other become a turning point in Edwards life and shape the way he sees his surroundings and heals.

As the Edward and Bella interaction increases so does our ability to see the true Edward and not the Jerkward that he shows everyone else.  Edward interaction with Bella also helps him to discover parts of himself he had buried deep long ago parts he forgot even existed. At one point Bella rescues him from one of his darkest hours, forsaking the anger she previously felt toward him to be what he needed, to be what no one else had been for him in years. This is a time where Bella’s gently nature brings Edward some self-discovery.

There had been many, many times I'd looked at a girl and wanted to feel my cock in her. In her mouth, in her pussy – I didn't care. I'd kiss her, because it was a means to an end – the end being me getting off. I'd get her off, too, because it just seemed like the polite thing to do, but the main goal was still the same.

But this…this was different.

I just wanted to kiss her.

Be closer to her.

Keep touching her.

Stay here with her.

Never, ever leave.

If someone told me I could stop time – stay right here where I was, feeling exactly how I was feeling, but I would never get off again – I wouldn't even hesitate to agree.

Offside is a fic I would definitely recommend to others, as it keeps you intrigued with the way another layer to the story and characters are revealed each update. Offside reminds us that no one is exactly who they appear to be on the surface, take a deeper look and you may be surprised at what you find; you could find the love of your life.




Soulmates Feeling Belonging by CaraNo
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7022184/1/Soulmates_Feeling_Belonging
Edward and Jasper returns to Jasper's hometown when Edward lands the position of Forks Hospital's newest therapist. Bella's in need of a therapist to get out of her dead marriage. You can't help who you fall for. ExJ ExBxJ ExB JxA. No angst. EPOV and BPOV
Twilight - Rated: M
Review By: Cullen Confection

I am such an E/B shipper that I rarely deviate, but I can’t resist when an author throws Jasper into the mix.  When Cara first posted a teaser for SFB, I was hooked and couldn’t wait for the story.  It starts out with Bella running into Jasper, an old friend from high school, on her way to see a therapist, who ends up being Jasper’s partner, Dr. Edward Cullen.  From there, Cara weaves a tale of acceptance, support, and longing that immediately sweeps you in and leaves you begging for the next update.  Once Bella realizes that her husband, Jacob, should have been kicked to the curb ages ago, she finally starts feeling again.  Jasper and Edward are friends that show her pure, unconditional love.  All those feelings lead us back to Cara’s skillful writing that makes us feel like we are in the room with them.  This is a teaser from Bella catching Edward and Jasper in a moment:

“Edward kissed his way down Jasper's chest, making him hiss in pleasure, and he didn't stop until he reached Jasper's very hard cock. And the way Edward kissed and licked… it was… earth shattering lust that rushed through me.

Desire.
Jasper fisted Edward's hair as he started easing Jasper's cock into his mouth… So hot. And from the light of the fire, I could see the glistening of their liquids. Erotic. Intense.”

Can’t you just see it happening and aren’t you ready to join in? Yep, and Bella is too. She finally puts her feelings into words.

“I bet they're fucking. Fucking animals, those two. Damn, I'm jealous. God, I just want him… them. Gah! How fucking messed up this is!
They should have me admitted.
Bella Swan at the age of twenty-four; in love with her gay friend, Edward. And crushing wildly on his life partner, Jasper.
Add sexually frustrated, and you have me.
A goddamn freak show.”

Cara gives the ultimate in her stories – humor, drama, friendships, and sex.

“"Is this her time of the month?" I heard Jasper whisper.
My eyes shot open, and I took real pleasure out of seeing him visibly shrink under my glare.
"Run," I told him in an eerily calm voice.
He obeyed.
Good for him and his nuts.”

So, we only have six chapters so far but this is one story, I rush to read the update and I can’t wait to see where she takes them, especially when Alice enters the picture!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Readalong for The Journal hosted by WaywardPushers/jaimearkin

Rating: M
Author: MsEm
Summary:  His wife's journal. He shouldn't read it, but he can't help himself. My entries I entered into the Quickie Contest, EXTENDED.


Join us on Twitter for the readalong of this incredible story.  Have you ever read something that totally grips you and pulls you in...you can't stop reading and you need the next chapter immediately?  That's how I felt reading this story.

MsEm weaves a story of an Edward and Bella who have been married for 20 + years, who have grown apart, but until Edward accidentally finds Bella's journal and reads it, he never really knew how his past actions had affected her.  This is a story of forgiveness and remembering why you loved that person to begin with.  Learning to find that love that you once had and not giving up on something or someone you can't live without. 

Both Edward and Bella have made mistakes in their years together, but it's how you forgive and move on that defines what you have to begin with. 

This story is 15 chapters in and I promise you will love it just as much as I do!

Join me on Thursday, June 16th at 8CST/9EST and remember to hashtag #readalong!
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