TLS Fics of the Week 9/28 - 10/4/2011: Reviews are up!

A Taste of Honey by SoapyMayhem
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7271653/1/A_Taste_of_Honey
Ex-Senator Edward Cullen has denied himself the pleasure of living the BDSM lifestyle for years now. Shortly after deciding to seek a new sub, he meets artist Isabella Swan in the most unexpected place - her high school graduation! Lemons/DirtyWords/BDSM
Twilight - Rated: M

Review by: Kitty Vuitton


Meet Senator Edward Cullen.  He is sexy, powerful, and wealthy and he has a dark side.  Meet Bella Swan.  She is a high school graduate, aspiring artist, shy, and very innocent.  Spending the summer painting at Edwards home, Bella is about to learn just how mysterious this Senator really is.

My overactive imagination, coupled with my past experiences, gave me a nice little bank of fantasies that I stored in my cranium, but they were nothing when compared to the real thing. Far too much time had passed since I'd taken control of a woman whose sole purpose was to submit to my will - my pleasure. Maybe I sounded like a horny, unfeeling, bastard, but I'd waited long enough. I wanted warmth, silky soft skin, and a tight little hole I could use whenever, however I pleased.

Edward is asked by his father to fill in for him at St. Mary’s Catholic School to present Ms. Isabella Swan the Elizabeth Masen Cullen Scholarship for Excellence in Art.  The moment Edward lays eyes on Bella; he knows that he is in deep trouble.

She was finally in front of me when I was assaulted by her scent, and Jesus Christ, did she smell fucking innocent and sweet. She was honey, warm peaches, and all-girl – heaven and fucking hell. I stifled a groan and pressed my cock against the podium to relieve a little of the tension.

As Bella thanks Edward for the scholarship, her shy and submissive response just furthers his desire to have her.  Not willing to let her get away, Edward forms a plan to host Bella at his house over the summer so she can paint a mural in his office.  In order to convince Bella’s father that this arrangement is purely business related, he offers to pay Bella to paint and moves his sister, Alice, into his house as well to make everyone more comfortable.  Of course, not all is as it seems.

I knew if Isabella and Alice ended up at the estate all summer, there was no way I could even consider bringing a new sub to play, not to mention the fact that my fantasies of Isabella alone were almost enough to ruin me for all other women.
I wanted her near me this summer, but even more desperately, I wanted Isabella for my Sub. If I couldn't have her, I'd enjoy her company and wait to get a new Sub when she was gone. I would undoubtedly need to find release while she was staying with me, if I couldn't have her. I knew it wouldn't be hard to slip away a few weekends here and there to make a visit to one of Onyx's private playrooms. I was certain that regular releases and play sessions would be needed to keep me from acting inappropriately if Isabella didn't respond to my advances.
I knew I was getting ahead of myself since she hadn't even agreed yet, but I felt pretty certain that Isabella would say yes to my offer, and I would need to be prepared in case she did. As far as my plan to make Isabella mine was concerned, well that I had a lot less certainty about. I was relying completely on faith that, not only were my instincts about her submissive nature correct, but also that she'd find me attractive and be open to trusting me to share my definition of pleasure with her. There were a ton of factors that needed to fall into place, and I had to admit that the odds were stacked against me. I figured the best I could hope for would be that my plan of slow seduction would ease her in and make her more comfortable and willing to please.

The first six chapters are told from Edwards POV, but this last update gave the readers an insight into just what Bella is really thinking.  While her quiet behavior leads us to believe she is innocent and reserved, we quickly find out that Bella’s thoughts and feelings towards Edward are far more seductive.

Edward was a VERY beautiful man, and it was one thing for me to continue my little teenage fantasy of being Mrs. Edward Cullen, but a whole other thing to start deluding myself into thinking a powerful and sexy man like him would ever be interested in a blushing school girl.
I had magazine and newspaper clippings, as well as recorded political ads, and TV interviews – it was quite an impressive, but pathetically juvenile collection and not something I ever wanted Edward to be aware of. I was sure if he knew of my… obsession, he'd probably want a restraining order.

So what happens when Bella overhears Edward in his bedroom late one night moaning her name as he pleasures himself?  Does the scared and innocent Bella run in fear, or does the naughty and lustful Bella take over and listens through the doorway?  Edward’s words awaken something deep within her, and she knows that once that door is open, there is no going back.

Something in my brain told me I should be thoroughly repulsed by the knowledge that I was the star in some old guy's perverted sex fantasies, but the flame of desire burning between my legs was telling me something completely different - Get in there before he finishes!
Aching like never before, my hand trailed slowly to the waistband of my shorts and into my panties. I slipped it lower quickly, and ran my index finger through my wet slit, spreading the moisture I found in abundance.

The author, SoapyMayhem updates A Taste of Honey every Tuesday, and there is also a group on Facebook where teasers and pictures are posted.  Check it out!
http://www.facebook.com/groups/250697594950292/ 

Cliche by Suzie55
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7352604/1/Cliche
In a place far, far away lived a beautiful…oh, forget it. Who are we really kidding here? This is Hell. This is high school. Welcome to Forks. Bella X Edward AH - some humor though that's subjective. Twilight - Rated: M

Review by: Robsmyyummy Cabanaboy

I’m sure we’ve all been there at one time or another in our lives. You look in the mirror and give yourself the pep talk that it’s time to make a change. Your transformation may need to happen mentally, physically or financially; ultimately though, you’ve resigned yourself that this change needs to occur in order for you to be the best person you can be.

In “Cliché” that’s exactly what Suzie55’s Bella has decided to do for herself. The story opens on the final day of school before Christmas vacation of her senior year. Bella has written in her purple notebook a mission statement that she vows “to be who I really want to be”. Bella also includes varying statements on attempting contact with Edward Cullen. Basically, she’s hot for Edward and would love it if he would ultimately reciprocate. *Sigh*…wouldn’t we all?

Poor Bella is bumbling and graceless. Silly word vomit and unavoidable clumsy movements are only exacerbated by hooligans such as Emmett McCarty and Mike Newton.  Couple those with mean girls like Jessica Stanley and it is painfully obvious that Bella has MUCH room for improvement if she ever has the hope of catching Edward’s eye. But just when we think that Bella is dreaming the impossible dream, the clouds lift:

As I push the exit doors open thirty-seven minutes later, I hear, "Hey bird girl. Do you eat your own kind, like a cannibal at Christmas?" Mike Newton is an annoying gnat, a pest who somehow became popular, but loves to make my life more hellish than it is already. He started swapping out bird for Swan in the fourth grade and it has been relentless since. Yeah, he's lacking in the brain department.

I wish I had the nerve to say something witty or clever, some great comeback to put him in his place. Instead, I duck my head, resting my chin against the books in my hands and walk a little faster.

"You're a real jackass, you know that." I look back over my shoulder as I hear his voice. Edward Cullen shoves Mike in the chest as he walks by.

"WHAT?" Mike says, raising his hands in the air, acting surprised.

Edward just shakes his head at him then continues tossing his keys from hand to hand.

Since I'm too busy watching Edward who is within touching distance now, I'm not watching in front of me and don't see the drop that I step right off of. My books go flying right out of my hands as my self-preservation skills run for cover, letting me fend for myself. Right when I expect to be hitting the pavement, I don't.

"Are you alright, Bella?"


And just when Bella thinks she has made a supreme ass of herself, guess who shows up at her house after school?

"Hello, sir, Chief Swan. Bella." Edward is hesitant almost nervous in his steps towards us.


"Mr. Cullen, what can I do ya for?"


He holds up a purple notebook that I identify right away. My heart starts beating out of my chest and I suddenly feel sweaty and hot though it hit the low fifties today. My notebook. My purple notebook. My purple notebook that has my mission written inside of it.


My turtleneck is constricting around my neck and as I tug at it trying to get the cool air into my lungs, Edward stops in front of me with his hand outstretched. The notebook is between us, me silently horrified and hoping that he didn't open it and read anything I had written inside of it.


"I think this belongs to you," he says, his face serious, taking me in, concerned or curious. I can't tell because I'm still trying to just breathe.


We are seven chapters into “Cliché” and don’t yet know if Edward actually opened Bella’s notebook and stumbled upon her mission statement. But Edward clearly is showing himself to be a good guy, not a typical meathead who can’t be bothered with the “little people”.

As I finished reading the first chapter, I immediately thought of this Edward as Jake Ryan of “Sixteen Candles” fame. You can imagine how excited I was when Suzie55’s Author’s Note at the end of chapter three had her dub her lead guy as “JakeRyanWard”! The totally popular, hot as hell, untouchable guy who never in your wildest dreams would ever even notice you is suddenly here defending you to his supposed friends and seeking you out to return something that belongs to you. In later chapters he’s actually DISCUSSING you aloud to his friends and then goes home to dig through the yearbook to seek out your old class pictures!

In chapter three, Suzie55 lets us hear from Edward:

"What do you know about Bella Swan?" I throw that out as casually as I can, hoping he doesn't question me more than I'm comfortable discussing.


...I plan to get to know her a lot better and definitely before school ends. I will see her eyes and verify firsthand what that other color is while I'm at it, too. That means I'll be up close and personal with the pretty girl and that makes me smile.


Just one more week of holiday break before my mission to get Bella Swan's attention officially launches.


While home for Christmas break, Bella discovers that she will now have a new stepsister, Rosalie, who instantaneously takes Bella under her wing to help in transforming this awkward duckling into a beautiful swan.

Rosalie comes back to Forks with Bella and the two are ready to start the new semester at school with the boys hopefully falling at their feet. Bella prays that her new wardrobe and hairstyle will be enough to catch the eye of Edward in order to complete her mission. On the first day back, Bella and Rosalie definitely turn some heads, including Edward’s…but is he happy with the changes he sees in Bella? Or is he just confused and concerned by the 180 degree about face in her outward appearance?

These seven chapters have me thinking of this as having elements of “Grease” and “Sixteen Candles”. She wants the guy and thinks she knows how to go about getting him. He wants to get to know her too, but does he need all the changes she has demanded of herself? Only time will tell. Won’t you join me and dive into “Cliché”?  I’m certain Suzie55’s Bella and JakeRyanWard will not disappoint! “Cliché” updates on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Masen Days by Purelyamuse
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7295348/1/Masen_Days
3rd Place Winner in the Boys on Boards contest! Now an EXPANDED multi-chap! Bella meets Masen at the local skate park. He's a quiet, mysterious loner. She wants to help him, love him even. Will he let her? Or will he skate away like he always does? AH Twilight - Rated: M

Review by: OnebraveLamb Fanfic

No matter how many years it has been, everyone can remember that one guy from high school. It seems that in Masen Days, Bella found her ‘one guy’ on a skateboard. Masen is a quiet guy, kind of intense and brooding at first. Which, c’mon on now, is a major turn on for most females, especially of the high school age. Bella’s infatuated and struck by Masen’s quiet demeanor and sea-green eyes.

Can’t say I blame the girl, really. Masen seems to be an enigma. Gorgeous, no doubt. But there are no girls hanging all over him. In fact, he seems to be alone most of the time. And, he seems to prefer it that way.

Now, if you’re like me, while reading through the first few chapters, little things might jump off the screen and make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. You just know something is coming. And purelyamuse doesn’t let you down. I feel it’s almost serendipitous that I’m the one giving you this review, because much of what Masen is dealing with behind closed doors, I lived through myself.

In chapter two, Bella’s keen powers of observation give us a small glimpse that something might be amiss.

“By the time we're in English, I'm blatantly staring, no longer caring that he may find me out. It's not like he'd say anything about it. He might acknowledge it with some gesture, but I could handle that. It wouldn't be too mortifying.

My eyes rove over his face: his nose is slightly freckled, and his neck is long and lick-able. I follow the seam of his shirt sleeve and smile when it gives way to a firm bicep that I love to see flexed amid skating tricks. I wonder what it would feel like to have his arm draped over me.

Using both hands, he tucks his shaggy hair behind his ears, breaking my concentration. That's when I notice something odd – the top of his right forearm is bruised and scabbed over.

He took quite a few tumbles the day before, but if I were asked where he was injured I would have guessed the underside of his left forearm. It's quite curious because I'm generally very observant, but I guess I was wrong. Maybe he hurt both of his arms. Either way I'd happily kiss his injuries better. I'd happily kiss anything better. I don't think I'll ever get a chance, though, since he doesn't talk to anyone, let alone me.”

This passage made me perk up and take notice, much like Bella. And since we, as readers, know that she did indeed see his injuries correctly...it gives you a small pause. At least, it did me.

What’s going on with Masen? Oh, dear God, don’t let it be what I think it is.

Those were my exact thoughts.

I hit the next button with a little trepidation. I love a story that takes real-life situations, even the worst of the worst, and opens your eyes to them. But again, some things just hit a little too close to home. Never fear, though. Courage can bring you wonderful things. Like this:

“I read with one hand and play with his hair with the other. It's soft, the waves springy. I tug at it playfully, and the corners of his lips pull up when I do. He's absolutely stunning when happy. I wonder if he's like this with anyone else. Come to think of it, I don't ever really see him interact with other people. Not really. The guys don't talk much.

I smile at the thought and allow myself to feel special while I get to play with Masen's hair. After an hour he gets up and motions for me to do the same. I do, and he reaches around, twisting my hair and shoving my pencil through it. The sloppy bun comes undone immediately, and he shrugs, adding, "Looks better down anyway."

The blossoming friendship between Bella and Edward leaves you with a smile on your face. At least, it made me smile. You begin to find yourself cheering Bella on, telling her to just keep doing whatever it is that she’s doing. You find yourself wishing for the brief Masen smiles, just as much as she does.

But again, you can’t let your guard down. Because, if you do, you might miss the little things. The little things that really aren’t little at all.

“We're cleaning up our small mess when the garage door growls. Masen's eyes dart toward the kitchen door, which leads to the garage, then back to me. He's panicked, I think.

"It's just my dad," I offer to ease his anxiety, but that seems to make it worse.

"I'm gonna go. See ya at school," he says and bolts for the front door, closing it without making a single noise. I hear the telltale sounds of the wheels clicking on the cracks of the pavement almost immediately.”

Now, most might just shrug that off as typical teen-aged boy behavior. Who wants to be caught unsupervised with someone’s daughter? Especially by the father of said daughter? But Masen isn’t your typical boy, and you get the feeling this isn’t the for the normal reasons.

I can tell you, if you get these little nagging thoughts, that you’re not alone. I was chewing my nails down to the quick, worrying over what exactly is going on with Masen.

So much so that when he finally gives Bella a little insight into his personal life, I almost...almost shut my browser.

"What is it about you?"

"What is what about me?" He says nothing, and I tap my pencil impatiently. I've never been a patient person, but he seems to need it. Unconditional patience or secrecy or something. So, for Masen, I manage. There's something about him too.

"My parents are drunks; Dad's worse than Mom," he announces.

"My dad's an overprotective freak, and my mom acts like a selfish teenager."

"I can't wait to get the hell out of here."

"Me too."

 But that would be the virtual version of the juvenile “la la la la, I can’t hear you!”  Indeed I suffered through the same things as Masen in my teens. Reading that snippet, I felt like someone decided to drench me with a bucket of ice water. I won’t lie. I wavered. I’m a self-proclaimed wuss-perv and that’s just with regular heartfail and angst.

Instead, I continued on and I’m glad I did. Not many authors can take such a sensitive subject and do it justice. purelyamuse does. She gives us a stark look at not only how a person living through something like this deals with it, but also a look at the person who cares for, and dare I say, loves the one who’s going through it.

The story is only six chapters in and I’m anxiously waiting to see where purelyamuse will take this. I have massive hope that Bella will be able to help Masen, to be some sort of port in his storm. But I also find myself rooting for Masen’s quiet strength. I find myself praying that he’ll come through this intact and that he’ll allow Bella to be the friend, confidant and loving presence he seems to so desperately need.

“He sits on my toilet, his eyes level with my breasts. He cleaned up his face, but his hair is still clotted with blood. I'm completely nervous, but he's asked me to do this, so I will. I think I'd do anything he requested. He has this quiet power over me that I can't explain, but I love it. I'm desperate for it – for him, really.

"I'm not sure how . . ."

He takes the clippers from me and attaches a purple comb to it. "You can't mess it up. Trust me."

"I trust you."

"I trust you too."

This isn’t your typical high school romance and it deals with some tough subject material, but it’s definitely worth the read. purelyamuse uses her words to weave a tale that’s both heart-breaking and heart-warming at the same time. That’s talent. There’s no other way to say it.

And, if I’m brave enough to keep reading and cheer both Bella and Masen along, I figure you will be too. So go read, and live for Masen’s smiles along with me.

All the Wild Horses by Elusivetwilight
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6435667/1/All_the_Wild_Horses
In her suffocating small hometown, Bella Swan meets widowed Edward Cullen. Can she pull him from the depths of his grief? Is there enough of him left to soothe her clawing loneliness? AUAH E&B. Twilight - Rated: M

Review by: Mina Rivera

Elusivetwilight was the author that introduced me to fanfiction, so I knew I had to write this review as soon as I found out she was one of the picks of the week.

All The Wild Horses is a very emotional story. We have Bella Swan, who had her poor heart broken by the man she thought would never do that to her. She lives alone with her cat Shadow and spends most of her time away from her job with her Momma and Daddy. In a town where everybody knows everybody else’s business, she goes through life with pitiful looks thrown at her on a daily basis. She is a beautiful woman and she is a little skittish because of her past. She really doesn't allow people to get too close, just like a wild horse.
Bella works in a ranch supply store as an accountant and that is where she knows Edward Cullen from.

Edward is the owner of a horse ranch and he spends all of his time working with his horses. He has lost people he loved dearly and he is in mourning. He seems to not be able to move one from that lost. Edward rarely interacts with other people outside of his ranch, it is like his safe zone. It is because of his lack of interactions that he seems to be stuck in his mourning, never moving on.

I watched him amble towards me, glancing at the shelves on either side of him. It was like looking at a different man.
Gone were the fancy duds and polished shiny belt buckle. They were replaced with old jeans and a padded plaid jacket. His expensive boots that shined, even in the photo, were replaced with worn looking work boots. The once clean shaven jaw was hidden under a growth of beard, and his hair was shaggy, hanging over his ears from where it peeked out of his old Stetson.
Most of all, were his eyes. That had to be the biggest contrast. They seemed incredibly haunted, but somehow empty. They were piercing when he settled them on anyone, as if it was painful for him to look them in the eye.
He made his way back to the parts counter, where I was currently set up. I attempted a smile, but knew that it wouldn't be returned. It wasn't out of nastiness, and I wondered if he was just lonely.
"What can I do for you, Mr Cullen?"

So what brings these two together?

A casual encounter outside a grocery store, where Bella’s lack of coordination makes an appearance and loses a battle against a black patch of ice, forces these two to interact. It is such a small moment, but also huge in comparison to their former interactions inside the store.

He set me on my feet again, and furrowed his brows together as he bent to pick up the apples that had escaped. They seemed oddly small in his large work roughened hands.
"I don't think you should drive home. That's all you need is to pass out in front of the wheel. And on nights like this," he indicated the snow falling from the sky, "You need your wits about you."
He dug in his pockets, and pulled out a jingling key ring, "C'mon, I'll take you home."
"What about my truck?"
"You sure as hell ain't gonna drive, honey. And you need to get in and ice your head and chin. Me and the boys will come back for your truck later and drop it off at your house."
I wasn't sure, I felt like a little kid again, thinking maybe I shouldn't take rides from strangers. But this was a small town, and everyone knew everybody else.
Nobody was really a stranger.
I started to walk forward but nearly slipped again, "Jesus honey, you're more unsteady than a new born colt." He stepped forward and wound his arm around my waist, pulling me up against his side.
Something passed between us then, I knew he felt it this time; his eyes sharply locked with mine for an instant, and then looked away.

Surprisingly it is Edward’s gentlemanly ways that opens the airwaves between these two lonely people. A simple phone call is what sets everything into motion.

Edward and Bella’s relationship won’t be easy. Patience, understanding and instinct will be used in order to really understand each other, like taming a wild horse. They are both somehow lost and at the same time trapped in their past, but as they explore their feelings fro each other, they also learn how to let go and move on, together.

Elusivetwilight is an amazing storyteller.  Her story makes you think about it and she gets to the heart of her characters. I’m a big fan of hers and I really love her style.  She doesn't just post a chapter without giving it a great deal of thought.  She really researches what she's writing about, taking us readers on an incredible journey. It is her unique style and thoughtfulness that sets her apart and I feel lucky it was her that popped my fic cherry with her story The Rain Season.

Now go read All The Wild Horses, keep the tisues close by and enjoy the ride... you won’t regret it.

Until next time, xoxo.

~Mina