Friday, September 28, 2012

TLS Fics of the Week 9/24 - 9/30/2012: The Sexy Six Features are up!



Bare by Stella Luna Sky
A beautifully plain girl writes the colors used to unravel a young prodigy of the brushstroke. What color are the eyes that see through the heart? Forest green and their rooted brown. AH/M. COMPLETE. Rated: Fiction M

Review by: OneBraveLamb

stella luna sky’s - Bare, is pure prose masquerading as fanfiction. I fell in love with the way she wrote her characters from the very first chapter.

...“I am not beautiful, she wrote. Her script was a mixture of cursive and print, the lovely handwriting already a contradiction of her words. I am my mother's keeper, my daddy's little girl, and I thank them for my name, but I do not live up to it.

The notebook slammed shut suddenly, because she felt eyes where they didn't belong, ghosting her words with each loop and scratch.

"There is Camus in your back pocket, and a Biology textbook on your desk," she hissed at the boy next to her. "Surely, they are more interesting than the musings of an insecure girl."

"Sorry," he whispered back, and she could almost feel the heat of his shame in being caught.”...

It’s actually hard to write a review, because I feel that all of my words are sadly lacking. But I’ll persevere and give it my best shot, anyway.

Bella is an insecure girl, who doesn’t believe that she’s beautiful, even though everything she does screams beauty.

...“She didn't open her notebook again until late that night, ready to pour out the strange day in ink. She was full; Charlie had brought home some good steaks from the local butcher, and it was dry enough to grill, so he manned the outdoors while she made a salad and a pasta side. Now it was rainy, the good kind of rainy, where it made sleep comfortable and quick, and she was almost ready to succumb.

When she flipped it open to the page she had left off on, a very different script met her eyes. Under her rant of beauty lacking, were three words in a neat, elegant print:

You are beautiful.

And, just for a moment, she believed it.”...

Edward is an artist, who sees beauty where other’s can not.

Ah, a match made in Heaven.

Sadly, it’s not all rainbows and smiles for these two. Where Bella is plagued by insecurities, Edward is haunted by his past.  The road these two find themselves on is a bumpy one, indeed, but luckily Bella has more wit and snark than any mere mortal should possess; her view of the world helps keep you from despairing too much.

..."Who… was that?" Bella whispered to Angela.

"That was Edward Cullen," Angela answered. "Alice's brother. I've never seen him act like that… he's aloof, but always polite. Just like the rest of their family. Alice is the only outgoing one, but even she's distant, to an extent. I've never… oh my goodness."

"What did you do to piss Edward Cullen off so much?" Lauren called down the table. "Rumor has it, he loves all women… you must repel even man whores, Bella."

"If my brother is a whore, then what does that make you?" said a musical, infuriated voice behind Bella. "The village bicycle?"

"The village doorknob," Bella answered without thinking. "Everyone gives it a turn."

The table erupted in laughter, and Lauren's face reminded her of Bosch's paintings of Hell. She felt a small hand on her shoulder, and turned to see Alice's smiling face....

It’s a very poignant and mature high school story about love, loss and finding yourself. You’ll be swept away with Edward’s brushstrokes and yearn to be able to wield words like Bella. Bare truly is a magical story that you’ll want to bury yourself in. I just don’t have the words to adequately express my love for it.

I really don’t want to give away too much of this story, because it’s a fantastic read and you’ll really want to discover these two, and all of the supporting characters on your own. So go do that, and leave stella luna sky some love when you realize you adore her as much as I do.


Our Lives Unbound by TheLadyinGrey42
My mind is trapped in circles, my loneliness pressing in. Unable to speak, I reach for her spark. In her eyes, I find my partner. In her command, I find my freedom. Together, we open our lives to something more. AU/AH, D/s, male sub. Rated: Fiction M


Bringing Bella Home by Counselor
1872 brothers Edward and Jasper return from the war to rebuild the farm. Edward has a son, eighteen. The three bachelors work sun up and down. Edward visits Forks twice a year for supplies and to scratch an itch with a woman there. When he finds her sick he makes a snap decision to take her home. He has no idea who she really is. And how lonely they are at home. Trouble. Rated: Fiction M


Boxing Out by MeilleurCafe
Bella is a little lost while trying to make a new life in the Big Apple. Edward is a Manhattan police officer who knows it to the core. They meet at court. Will this new romance be a slam dunk? AH; M for language and lemons. Twilight - Rated: M


The Whole Package by PrimaryDiamonds
Collab relay-fic by DiamondHeart78 and primarycolors. Bella sees him every day but has a hard time gathering up the nerve to make a move. Every delivery is a special delivery. UPSward/Gamerward! E/B AH Rated M for Bella checkin' out Edward's package. Rated: Fiction M


Somewhere In Between by Kassiah
A tragic accident separated Edward and Bella, forcing them down paths they never envisioned. What happens when they find themselves torn between having what they always wanted and honoring commitments made? AH, Rated M for language & lemons
Rated: Fiction M
Posted by Unknown at Friday, September 28, 2012 2 comments

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Meet the Poll:Choose the FIVE that move you the most!




Each week we share with you what we are reading and enjoying. The following made the top of our lists last week. Please help us determine which 5 of these will be featured as fics of the week, next week, by choosing FIVE from the poll on the right!


A Soldier's Coming Home by Morsus Mihi-rec'd by Agrutle
Based on the song by The Dixie Chicks: A chance meeting bring Edward and Bella together, but the military and the Vietnam War may permanently tear them apart. AU/AH Canon couples There will be a happy ending and graphic lemons. Rated: Fiction M

Always an Edward by LifeInTheSnow-rec'd by Evilnat
Bella wants to say yes to kind, handsome Ed…but can't stop meeting Eddie for martini lunches. Eduardo just wonders why she's avoiding his yoga class. And who is this "Edward" leaving cryptic messages at work? A story about people and how they change. Rated: Fiction M

Amending the Arrangement by Venusenvy626-rec'd by Rose Arcadia
After a business arrangement leads to marriage, Bella is shocked to find her husband wishes for her to give him an heir. Will Bella consent in hopes that he will return the love she has for him or will she leave before her heart is beyond repair? Rated: Fiction M

An Unobservable Entity by Mortissues-rec'd by Mercyrus Tales
I look like you, but I'm not. I see your world, but I'm not a part of it. I could be the college kid sat across from you in the coffee shop, the young runaway beside you on the bus, or the beauty you're admiring on the dance floor. Pray that I'm not. Rated: Fiction M 

Black Candy by JadoreJAC-rec'd by Midnight Cougar
I like to play amongst the wicked, douse myself in sin, fall into bed at 3AM, then do it all again.
Rated: Fiction M

Defrosting Edward by Aleeab4u-rec'd by Jenn Granat
Bella's been trying to warm Edward up in more ways than one. With a little help from Alice, a broken truck and a few burned fingers, she just might have found his defrost button. Rated M with canon characters, based on "practice makes perfect." E/B AU Rated: Fiction M

Delphian City by Boom-Boom Jones-rec'd by Katinki
There are dark secrets in Delphian City. Edward Cullen is one of them. AH/AU OOC Supernatural/Fantasy/Sci-Fi minus the vamps. Rated: Fiction M

Everlasting Why by Suitablyironicmoniker-rec'd by Lynn Pepper
A student of social work & her troubled client. Longing to help him, she suspects & soon learns there is far more beneath the surface than she could have ever guessed. & perhaps her motives for helping are more complicated than she's willing to admit. AU Rated: Fiction M

Follow the Sun by MissWinkles-rec'd by Evilnat
Sometimes you have to think with your heart and not your head, follow which way the wind blows, set your intentions, and dream with abandon. Because tomorrow is a brand new day, who knows what it will bring. E/B. Fluffy as fuck, with some sweet salty love. Rated: Fiction M 

Judging Books by Savage7289-rec'd by Evilnat/Nic/Edmazing
Debutante Bella is planning to follow Dad's footsteps. A chance meeting at a stop light with a beautiful boy on a bicycle gives her a new outlook on life. Is she willing to risk living life to the fullest with this fascinating, but damaged, young man? Rated: Fiction M

Lovestrong by GemLouWarb-rec'd by Evilnat
After 5 years of soul searching this was it, Bella was going home; back to the one place everyone knew her and her past. What happens when Bella comes face to face with the man who left her heart to bleed…..Karma tastes so sweet. Rated: Fiction M

Room 212 by Revrag-rec'd by Edmazing
A story of survival and adversity. Endurance and love. Discovering how to overlook the things that matter least, for the reward of the things that matter most. ExB Rated: Fiction M

She's Moody by Jackqueenking-rec'd by Bellaflan
She's moody... but it's cool. I like it. Rated: Fiction M

The Gift by Mamasutra-rec'd by Nic
For it is giving that we receive, but Edward was never expected a gift that would forever change everything in his life from the moment it was in his hands. Be careful what you wish for. Bella/Edward/Tanya Rated: Fiction M 

The Give Away Girl by MrsSpaceCowboy-rec'd by Nic
Honor student Bella Swan has mastered the arts...of manipulating her divorced parents, rolling the perfect joint, and faking an orgasm. Who wouldn't want to keep a girl like her? An unconventional coming of age tale for Gen Xer Bella. Rated M

The Harder They Fall by Ironic Twist-rec'd by Jessica Meraux/JiffyKate
Bella Swan had big dreams that were quashed by reality. Now, a momentary indescretion may cost her the little she has. Or maybe it will be the best mistake she's ever made. Edward Cullen's life is perfect. Well, almost. Perhaps these two can help each other out in an unorthodox way.
Rated: Fiction M

The Loving Kind by Thimbles-rec'd by Nic
There were nine words on the square of paper. Nine simple words that I have waited over a year to hear: "I was wrong. I miss you. I love you." My biggest mistake was falling in love with Bella. My second was telling her. Rated: Fiction M

True Nature by M7707-rec'd by Suebee Betafairy
An expert in vampire psychology, Dr. Bella Swan is assigned to the Institute's most intriguing captive to date: Edward Cullen. But who is studying whom? AU Rated: Fiction M

Under Pressure by JiffyKate-rec'd by Evilnat/Lynn Pepper
Have you ever imagined what it would be like if your favorite characters starred in a John Hughes movie? We have! This is their story. The year is 1984. Bella and Edward are seniors in high school...where everyone is under pressure. Rated M for future lemons. AH
Rated: Fiction M

Under These Lights by Jaxington-rec'd by Nic
Small town Texas. High school football. Two best friends, one girl. A tragedy that changes everything. All Human. Lemons. The usual suspects. YeeHaw! Rated: Fiction M
Posted by Unknown at Tuesday, September 25, 2012 1 comments

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

TLS fics of the week 9/17 - 9/23/2012



High Fidelity by Ireen H
Damaged Edward, damaged Bella. Two sides of the same scarred coin. When one side is up, the other is down. Language and lots of it. Lemons eventually. It's a slow burn, slow and painful. Mature. Lots of random pop culture references. AH, AU, ExB.

Reviewed by: VampsHaveLaws

I was a little late to the High Fidelity train. I saw it rec’d on numerous blog sites, and after a few friends started reading it, I decided to shift it to the top of my list.

Despite working in the same office building for five years, it isn’t until Edward mistakenly files a claim against Bella for a hit and run accident that they “meet”.

He’s arrogant, attractive, and obstinate. She’s fiery, insistent—his perfect match.

"Did you know that you hit someone in the parking lot this morning?"

Come again?

"Uh. No I didn't. Wait, you mean, someone hit me?" I thought maybe he had misstated what he was trying to say.

"No, you hit another car in the parking lot."

I actually laughed. This was absurd. "Nope, wasn't me."

Things only start to get more heated from here.

Edward sets out to get Bella into bed, but she isn’t like the usual women who fall at his feet. She fights his advances and keeps him at a distance. She has a secret that will only let him get so far before she pulls away.

The UST is crazy. Their banter humourous. And the more Edward gets to know “Bella the person”, instead of “Bella the ass and legs and smart mouth”, the more his previous notions get turned on their head.

He starts to feel things he can’t deal with; emotions he doesn’t want to own.

The story shifts between point of views, allowing us to see what lies beneath protective shields and outward shows.

I especially love this Edward. He’s cruel and broken and has a past he keeps hidden at all costs.

His torn up ideals and inner demons result in personal attacks and mistakes he’ll learn to regret.

And when he lashes out, it’s not only at himself, but at the detriment of others.

I reach out and place my hand gently against the wood. What am I touching? What part of her presses against my hand through this thin barrier of painted oak.

Her back? The small of it? Her hands, bracing her against the force of Edward's thrusts? Her breasts? Two of them?

A whole woman, a broken man. Both of them thieves, robbing me in this moment.

I can't help this longing, comfort me, I can't hold it all in, if you won't let me…I can hear Edward breathing.

I can hear him cursing.

And her moans.

This is fucking.

I am an empty vessel. A moment ago, a heart beat inside of my chest... now it echoes the banging and squeaking of those people... those people on the other side of that door. And this song. This terribly beautiful song which I know is ruined for me forever.

I pull my hand back and return to the kitchen where I hastily pack up my final bag and set it near the door.

My vision blurs as I quickly, sloppily, wipe down his cabinet fronts, his counters, his floors, his bar, his sink.

I tell myself it doesn't matter. My neck starts to ache.

I have to get out of here.

All I hear is her now, the animal sounds of fornication drowned out by her voice, as she says his name. Over and over again.

I feel it in my stomach, in my scar, in my throat which is throbbing with my silent demand to keep it all in.

All I want to do is hide.

But I don't get that chance.

I am just crossing the hallway to finally escape when the door to his bedroom, the door bearing his touch and hers, is thrown open with a bang.

I thought I knew what his bedhead looked like. I was wrong. His hair falls in his face, into his eyes, limp strands damp with sweat. His hair, so beloved, has become anathema to me.His expression, though, is familiar. I've seen it before. I've rejected him before, in this moment.

Bella, dance with me.

It's torment, it's rage, it's someone dying on the inside. His whole persona is electric as he fills the doorway, his eyes beseeching mine. Asking something from me that I can't even comprehend. Accusing me of something I haven't done.

He has his dress slacks on, riding loose on his hips, and he's shirtless. His chest expands as his lungs slowly fill, a soft tangle of hair marks his collarbone. A fine patina of sweat causes his bare skin to sparkle at me… and something else. The ugliest scar I've ever seen. In the scariest place I can imagine. His left pectoral muscle.

I remind myself that the heart is actually more centrally located, and that he is in fact alive in front of me, but I'm reaching for him, to comfort him... God only knows why. Because it's obvious from that scar that he is lucky to be alive.

Oh what a lucky man, he was.

Before I can close the distance between us, he speaks. "Stay away from me."

I’m interested to see where the story is headed, and how dynamics will change now that feelings have.

High Fidelity is well written and has a unique plot, and with it only being thirteen chapters in, won’t take you that long to get caught up.

Read it, enjoy it, and let the author know what you think.

XOXO


Symmetry by Aftrnoondlight
Love comes slowly when it's the truest. A modern day romance designed and told by Edward.


Penal Code by FictionFreak95 & BellaFlan
COLLABORATION with BELLAFLAN: Undercover Cop Edward Cullen wants some excitement on his beat. Bella, whom he mistakenly thinks is a hooker, desperately needs to snap out of her funk. How deep is Edward willing to go undercover to get the girl? AH, BxE


I Never Knew by Nerac
After a phone call from a stranger turns her life upside down, Isabella Dwyer realizes that the people you trust the most sometimes tell the biggest lies. Can she convince a man in uniform to help her discover the things she never knew? AH


A Room With a View by ShortHappyLife
Endless scripts to read, a tyrant boss to tolerate, and a rather lackluster personal life. It was a good thing Bella Swan's office provided the perfect view of the building's hotshot lawyer. Now if only they'd share more than a glance each day. E/B
Posted by Unknown at Tuesday, September 18, 2012 1 comments

Monday, September 17, 2012

Meet the Poll: Please choose the FIVE that move you the most!




Each week we share with you what we are reading and enjoying. The following made the top of our lists last week. Please help us determine which 5 of these will be featured as fics of the week, next week, by choosing FIVE from the poll on the right!


A Street With No End by ExquisiteEdward-rec'd by Six Dlbfive
One night, Dr. Cullen's life becomes painfully entangled with a woman whose world he alters forever. What lengths will he go to in search of redemption? Or can the redemption he so desperately seeks be found within himself? AH. Rated: Fiction M

Bare by Stella Luna Sky-rec'd by Jaime Arkin
A beautifully plain girl writes the colors used to unravel a young prodigy of the brushstroke. What color are the eyes that see through the heart? Forest green and their rooted brown. AH/M. COMPLETE. Rated: Fiction M

Between Us by Nuttyginger-rec'd by Nic
He was the same and different all in one body. The boy I had once loved had turned into a man...temptation in a tie, had swagger for days...and a curious British lilt that makes my insides tumble. Could we ever be what we were or am I just completely screwed? AH, ExB
Rated: Fiction M

Boxing Out by MeilleurCafe-rec'd by Nic
Bella is a little lost while trying to make a new life in the Big Apple. Edward is a Manhattan police officer who knows it to the core. They meet at court. Will this new romance be a slam dunk? AH; M for language and lemons. Twilight - Rated: M 

Bringing Bella Home by Counselor-rec'd by Six Dlbfive/Ysar
1872 brothers Edward and Jasper return from the war to rebuild the farm. Edward has a son, eighteen. The three bachelors work sun up and down. Edward visits Forks twice a year for supplies and to scratch an itch with a woman there. When he finds her sick he makes a snap decision to take her home. He has no idea who she really is. And how lonely they are at home. Trouble. Rated: Fiction M

Chalk by Honeybeemeadows-rec'd by Suebee Betafairy/Dandie Goose
Bella needs a new hobby. Will a new pair of ugly shoes, a shirtless guy and a bag full of chalk give her any relief from the boredom? Rated for various tensions, lemons and boys on rocks. I own nothing, not even a crash pad. Rated: Fiction M 

Episode by BoydBlog-rec'd by Evilnat
Bella Swan is a writer that is on a trip of a lifetime. Edward Cullen is a famous actor, whose life is a blur of film-sets, hotels and screaming fans. A destined encounter and a battle of mind over matter erupt amongst sensual music and a shared longing. Rated: Fiction M

In Transit by Lillybellis-rec'd by Jaime Arkin
Riding the same bus every day, Edward and Bella get off to a bumpy start. She thinks he's stuck-up; he thinks she's shallow. Sometimes what seems like the wrong thing turns out to be exactly what you were waiting for. A FGB novella for mujisan. Rated: Fiction M 

Love Is the End by Phoebes.Promise-rec'd by Jaime Arkin
If he had only spoken the right words at the right time she would be his forever. Instead, they ache, love and long for each other in silence. A bittersweet love story desperately searching for a happily ever after. E/B, AH. Rated: Fiction M

My Brother's Wife by Mostly a Lurker-rec'd by Obsmama
Homesteading on the prairie in 1864 is austere, beautiful, and deadly. Can Edward and Bella survive the hardships and flourish? AU/AH EPOV Originally an entry in the Age of Edward contest, now revised and expanded. Rated: Fiction M

Our Lives Unbound by TheLadyinGrey42-rec'd by Jaime Arkin
My mind is trapped in circles, my loneliness pressing in. Unable to speak, I reach for her spark. In her eyes, I find my partner. In her command, I find my freedom. Together, we open our lives to something more. AU/AH, D/s, male sub. Rated: Fiction M

Season of the She Wolf by  Vivienne67-rec'd by Obsmama
The Cullens and wolf packs are at peace, and Leah has begun to feel almost normal. When the half-vampire Nahuel returns and the unthinkable happens, Leah faces life-changing choices and a frightening, evil foe from Nahuel's past. Rated M for a reason. Rated: Fiction M 

Simple Mistakes by NinaQ-rec'd by Obsmama
Alice's future plans don't include smooth-talking Jasper, but life keeps throwing them together. With every meeting, he's harder to resist. One simple mistake has her running scared and him rethinking everything. Rated: Fiction M

Sold, Sight Unseen by Quothme-rec'd by Jaime Arkin
The odds of him dialing her phone number are 3,720 to 1. Yet he does. Their chance conversation leads to something more. Something silly, then serious and a little scary. But in a good way. Rated: Fiction T

Somewhere In Between by Kassiah-rec'd by Jaime Arkin
A tragic accident separated Edward and Bella, forcing them down paths they never envisioned. What happens when they find themselves torn between having what they always wanted and honoring commitments made? AH, Rated M for language & lemons
Rated: Fiction M

The Confidence Man by OhMyWord-rec'd by Jaime Arkin
"The target is Isabella Swan, fellow graduate student. Came into a fortune when her mother died, she doesn't seem to care to do anything with it. Quiet, shy, just waiting for The One. I'll be everything she wants me to be." Rated: Fiction M

The Living Will by 2Carm2carm2-rec'd by Rose Arcadia
"In the event of my death, Isabella Marie Swan, upon previous agreement, is to step in and assist Edward Anthony Cullen in the caring of the child, necessitating her to stay at the Cullen residence in which the child lives for six months." When tragedy strikes, a last wish forces Edward and Bella together to deal with their pain, heal and rebuild the lives they lost. Rated: Fiction M 

The Whole Package by PrimaryDiamonds-rec'd by Lynn Pepper
Collab relay-fic by DiamondHeart78 and primarycolors. Bella sees him every day but has a hard time gathering up the nerve to make a move. Every delivery is a special delivery. UPSward/Gamerward! E/B AH Rated M for Bella checkin' out Edward's package. Rated: Fiction M

Walk by Mustlovertp-rec'd by Evilnat/Nic
After a betrayal leaves Edward reeling, he decides to change the course of his life. Starting over can be a daunting task. Will he let a certain young, brown eyed beauty help him find what he's looking for? AH canon pairings Rated M for adult content Olderward/Doctorward
Rated: Fiction M 

What Wicked Games We Play by AllorNothingKR-rec'd by Nic
Bella & Edward fall into a unique relationship, full of competition, lust, jealousy and greed. Bella gives up everything & everyone for him and he takes all he can from her in return. A tragic incident changes the dynamics of their relationship, forever. Rated: Fiction M
Posted by Unknown at Monday, September 17, 2012 0 comments

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

TLS Fics of the Week 9/10 - 9/16/2012



Letters to Corporal Masen by SolosinTwilight
Writing to offer a bit of home to a soldier overseas, she discovers words can bind a friendship. Lonely in war torn Europe, he finds hope in letters from a stranger. What happens when the war is over? Rated: Fiction M

Reviews by: lgk and AHoboDarling

Set during World War II, the author opens the door to the society that existed after the US had been embroiled in combat and death for a few years. Bella and her roommates, Alice and Rose are existing, living in a boarding house. Bella was working at a local library in New York but loses her job when the library closes down. Alice and Rose help Bella by introducing her to Esme at the hospital where they work and Esme sees in Bella someone who would fit in perfectly as a reader for the men injured in the line of duty. Bella's mother eggs Bella to write to a soldier, for the war effort, and the story thus begins. A portrait of both Bella and Corporal Masen is drawn through the words in their letters as they seek out the individual within as well as comfort from the other while the world outside is in turmoil. Sacrifices made by those at home as well as those on the front lines are evident as the author offers up life as it was during this time. Mini history lessons are cleverly woven into the chapters with additional information given by the author in her Author's Note to enhance or enlighten you even further. Not a history enthusiast? Doesn't matter. The writing alone will pull you right in, especially after you read the first letter from Corporal Masen. This is a story about hope and of giving of yourself unselfishly under stressful and uncertain conditions, only desiring that someone keeps you tethered to sanity in a world gone completely mad. This is one of those quiet, unassuming stories that will tug at your heart because of the conditions that exist during this time all the while involving you in the personalities as they are exposed through their words to each other. This is an engaging, extraordinary story, lovingly crafted, about ordinary people who are living through unforgettable times.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Using the deadliest war in human memory as the backdrop for her latest story, Solostintwilight merges history and emotion to create a truly beautiful romance.


A letter?
"Who's it from?" I asked absently, looking at how it must have been rained on and beaten up in transit.
I never received mail. Pop was in the Pacific last I heard, and Renee was in the city. She'd never write.
"It's from a Corporal Masen," Rose said from the table, smirking.
-Chapter 2

Through Bella’s point of view, the author introduces the reader to her, her friends and life during World War Two.  We learn that this Bella is a book lover and an introvert by nature.  She’s very recently lost her job at a library and is unsure as to what she’s qualified to do, beyond that.  Her best friends (who are also her roommates at a New York City boarding house) both work at a hospital but Bella is nauseated by the sight and smell of blood and too clumsy for factory work.  But lacking other options, she goes to the hospital, hoping that she will find work that she won’t be terrible at or dread.  An astute Nurse Esme notes her strengths and suggests that Bella read aloud to a ward of wounded soldiers.  Bella accepts, thinking all the while of her lonely pen pal, Corporal Masen.



My name is Edward Masen.
I am a Corporal in the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment of the United States Army. I've been in the Army for over two years now, and have been here for almost a year…..I don't get much news from the States. Both of my parents died shortly before I joined so I can simply say that getting a bit of news from stateside is a luxury I have not had in some time. Receiving your letter was a very pleasant surprise.  I didn't realize how much just a simple piece of paper with writing on it could mean so much. But it did, so thank you for finding the courage to do so.
-Chapter 3

The reader gets to know Solostintwilight’s Edward as Bella does, through his letters.  He writes to her of his parent’s death and, finding himself alone, of subsequently joining the military to escape his life in Chicago.  We learn of his love of fine literature, music and note how much he and Bella have in common; both craving quieter pursuits and peace over some of the more raucous activities that Alice and Rose attempt to get Bella to indulge in.  The author stealthily drops hints not only of the character’s personalities and pasts in their correspondence but of era-relevant information.



I came in from the field today and was greeted with four of your letters! I cannot tell you just how much it meant to me to hear my name called out and to receive a stack of letters, rather than not hearing my name at all. My pals in my unit are quite envious. You have a real honest to goodness fan club here.
 …
No girls back home, and we honestly have very little time here to search anyone out, even on leave. I know a few boys in the flight crews have steady dames, but I don't think I could in good conscience lead a lady on for my own pleasure when death could be just around the corner for me. I am in the minority I suppose, but I when I pledge myself to a woman I want to guarantee to her that I will be there to protect her and provide for her, and I have seen too many here receive that dreaded letter from a girl back home stating that they had moved on.
I could not expect a girl to wait for me, only to lose hope and possibly myself in the process.
-Chapter 9

While thankful for the time and effort that Bella is putting into her letters on his behalf, eventually Corporal Masen tries to create some emotional distance between them.  Seeing some of the terrible things that he has and not knowing if he would make it back alive would understandably effect how he viewed relationships.  He could tell from Bella’s letters that she is a kind and sensitive girl and didn’t want to put her through anything that he didn’t have to. 



Bella’s reacts to his statements about as you’d expect and how many of us would react in her place:

It doesn't matter, we're just pen pals, Alice," I said, thinking again about what he had said about being single and not searching out a love interest.
It left me feeling a little bereft. I was a friend. A pen pal and nothing more.
-Chapter 10


But FEAR NOT!  Edward’s attempt at avoiding any emotional attachment to Bella doesn’t last very long and Solostintwilight has her receiving a letter containing these words from her Corporal:

I did not mean to devalue our friendship by alluding that you were simply someone to which I would correspond with and that it did not mean more to me. Your letters mean more to me than anything I have known. I cannot explain it. When the afternoon arrives when I am on base, and I hear the announcement of mail call, I feel an adrenaline rush at the possibility of hearing my name called.
Your letters are the singular thing that enables me to work harder, strive to succeed in our assignments, if only to get back to see if there is a new letter from you, telling me about your day or what you are doing. I cherish every word, and am selfish to want more from you.
…..
But if I were to have a girl to love, and love me back, I would want one like you. Your kindness has made me hope for a reason to come home. I would be the luckiest man alive to find a girl such as you. The man who captures your heart will be a very lucky man indeed. Do not offer it lightly. Make sure the man you give your heart to is worth it. Don't squander it away only to be left starving for the attention and care you deserve.
…..
I do not have a death wish anymore. I want to come home.
You make me want to come home.
-Chapter 11

Ahhhh….don’t you feel better?  I feel better! 



I had tried without success to try and stave off my feelings for my corporal.
"Oh Edward," I whispered.
He had no idea that my heart was already his.
….
And if I could be Edward's reason for wanting to come home, I would keep up the cause.
Because my heart was his. I'd deal with the damage to it later when he refused me.
For now, I would be his reason to come home.
-Chapter 12

I believe every man should have a reason in his heart for this war. So when I read that I have given you a reason, it made my heart soar. Not because I have expectations of a romantic relationship with you, but that you have invested in me the desire to fight and to come home.
-Chapter 13
With a little more than a dozen chapters, Solostintwilight has created utterly fascinating characters that the reader can see struggling on some many fronts, the war with their inevitable feelings being just one of them. 

The story is at a wonderful place to start, if you’ve not yet had the opportunity to do so.  Because Bella?  No matter what, she’s all in.  Heart and soul, regardless of how her Corporal feels about her.  And Edward tried to be the gentleman and warn her away, tried to opt out.  But like canon Edward, he just can’t stay away from her.  He needs her letters and craves the kind words that she’s compelled to share with him. 

Please join Solostintwilight’s Bella and Corporal Masen on their journey.  Read their letters, learn about their world during war time and watch them fall in love.  I promise you that you won’t regret it.




Additionally:  Facebook group for Letters to Corporal Masen that has pictures of Bella, Edward, Rose, Alice, period clothing, WWII prints and topical discussion:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/463648170336030/




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Posted by Unknown at Wednesday, September 12, 2012 0 comments
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