What we're reading in TLS this week:

If you need a good read, we have quite a few for you. Some you may have read before and some you may have missed, but all in all, great choices. We sprinkled a few new interests in, that have caught our eye and we hope that you will enjoy them too. Please leave the writers a review and let them know TLS sent you!

♥ Nic & Six

A Few Tables Away by drotuno
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11436441/1/A-Few-Tables-Away
Edward spent most of his life trying to be invisible until he got to college. All alone, 3000 miles from home, there's only one person he wishes would see him. His Library Girl, just a few tables away. Rated M

Beauty Takes on the Beast by ericastwilight
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12608146/1/Beauty-Takes-on-the-Beast
I was about to break a promise to watch out for my best friend's baby sister. I was the worst thing that could ever happen to her, but I wasn't about let that stop me from having my Beauty. Third place winner in the public vote for the BDE Contest! Rated M

Edward’s Isabella by dancer54
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12407218/1/Edward-s-Isabella
Edward Cullen has abstained from human blood for over a century. Present-day Chicago, he uses his gift of telepathy to solve crimes, during an investigation he hears a madman planning to murder an innocent young woman. While intervening on her behalf, Edward loses his superior control, becoming fixated on the song of her sweet blood crying out to him. Will he answer? Rated M

Getting Blitzed by Nolebucgirl
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10676370/1/Getting-Blitzed
The continuing adventures of Cockyback and Reed Girl. College is over and real life awaits. How will they handle the ups and downs thrown their way as Edward enters the NFL and Bella approaches graduation? Rated R for Rainbow. Sequel to Sideline Collision. Rated M

Inside Man by ooza
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7043140/1/Inside-Man
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? Rated M

My Brother’s Best Friend by jennlynnfs
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4369590/1/My-Brother-s-Best-Friend
Seven years have passed since Edward and Bella last saw each other. Now,  with Edward's return to Seattle, Bella wonders what drove away her  brother's best friend all those years ago. Rated M

Six Different Ways Inside My Heart by April09-TW
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6942937/1/Six-Different-Ways-Inside-My-Heart
Bella & Edward meet when she is diagnosed with a life threatening  disease & he is recovering from knee surgery. She confides her fears  to him; he changes his life because of her. A journey through the  confusion, awkwardness, pain & beauty of first love.  Rated M

Stolen Heart by aspire2write
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12853489/1/
Captain Edward Cullen was serving his country. He had a plan - lead his team of Green Beret soldiers on this mission to stop a terrorist, finish his tour, and decide what was next: leave the Army or sign up for more. The new doctor on base wasn't part of the plan. Romance wasn't anywhere on his radar, but she may just steal his heart. Expansion of one-shot: Christmas Magic. Rated M

Take the Ice by Bellamarie117
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5773626/1/Take-the-Ice
Competitive figure skater Bella Swan meets NHL hockey player Edward Cullen. Bella's Olympic dreams are crushed by injury. Can he help her find the strength to take the ice again? Will they find love and friendship in the meantime? Rated M

The Other Way by Honeybeemeadows
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8520960/1/The-Other-Way
Men, like jewels, require a setting. Even if the setting is the last place you'd expect. Rated M

The Shift by RachelFish
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11188972/1/The-Shift
The start of Bella's senior year finds her at a new school missing old friends. Grades and graduation are her only priorities...until she meets Mase. Rated M

Unplugged by Write Sisters
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12360658/1/Unplugged
Masen, rock star, had it all—until he didn't. Now, he's trying to  rebuild his life, retrace his steps and, hopefully, do it all again,  only right this time. Bella Swan had her heart broken, her confidence  dashed, and her trust in love destroyed by Edward Cullen. It's taken her  years to get over his betrayal, and now, having finally gotten her life  together, he's back. Rated M

Uprising by pattyrose
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12688033/1/Uprising
1775: Revolution is in the air. American Patriot, Edward Cullen knows this. He plots, plans, and eagerly prepares for the colonies' unified uprising. But, when he meets the lovely Miss Swan, British Loyalist, it's the uprising within his heart which sets them down a dangerous path. *2nd Place Judges' Vote Winner in the 2017 Age of Edward Contest - Now extended to a full story.* Rated M

Wild by PeppahLouie
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6655429/1/Wild
Recently widowed Bella moves to Seattle to start a new life.  Reconnecting with her friend, Bella meets Alice's brother, Chef Edward  Cullen. Celibate by choice for 2 years, what happens when Edward finds  himself undeniably attracted to a sexy new Bella? Rated M

Worship by beegurl13
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7395050/1/Worship
"Age shouldn't matter. When you meet the person that completes all the  unfinished parts of you, it shouldn't matter about anything else." The  story of a brazen young man, an invisible woman, and an unholy worship. Rated M

TLS Special SNEAK PEEK feature

The Lemonade Stand has spent so many years bringing you the best the Twilight fandom has to offer, and we are very excited to have the chance to offer you even MORE. We've watched stories grow and develop from first post through COMPLETE, and now we're lucky enough to share previews of the stories that will soon be your new addiction.

Pattyrose is one of this fandom’s talented writers and a TLS favorite. I have followed her writing for many years and I have to say, Begin Again was one of my most loved fics! When I found out Patty was writing a sequel, I was so excited and couldn’t wait to see what angle we would approach these beloved characters from.

banner by Pattyrose

Begin Again...Again

by

Pattyrose

Summary: Bella’s life philosophy has changed a bit in the past few years: Life gets real, and no, you can't start the same batch over, but you can always begin again. She likes this one. But in the face of yet another life-altering event, can both she and Edward follow this philosophy, and adjust their lives…all over again?

~.~.~

“…actually starting over after so many years…if you knew me, you'd know that's not part of my belief system, Edward. When you fuck up a batch, you fuck up a batch."

"The problem is you're seeing it wrong. It's not starting over, Bella. If you fuck up the batch, you pull out all the ingredients that worked the first time…get rid of the ones that didn't…add in the ones you've picked up along the way, and you begin again."

So begins ‘Begin Again,’ with Bella’s life philosophy, which is the result of a heart that’s been broken more than once, and a burned batch of Nutella Scones.

In Begin Again, Edward Masen, divorced for almost two decades, and Bella Swan Laurent, widowed for almost two years, bumped into one other – literally – after almost a quarter of a century. Due to the mistakes, doubts, and insecurities of youth, their teenaged relationship ended horrendously. Fortunately, when their children from their respective and ensuing marriages, Anthony (aka The Spawn) and Nessie met and fell in love while away in college, Edward and Bella were forced to share all those secrets they kept from one another for so long. In the process, they fell in love again, and Bella’s life philosophy shifted a bit:

‘Life gets real, and no, you can’t start the same batch over, but you can always begin again.‘

There. That summarizes ‘Begin Again.’

But now, it’s time to Begin Again…Again, and Nic, Six, and TLS have been wonderful enough to allow me to offer you all this sneak peek.

‘A new phase of our lives begins every day’ – this is the gist of Edward’s philosophy.

A few years have passed. Edward and Bella Masen are now married and living on the West Coast, as are The Spawn and Nessie. At this point, Edward and Bella’s lives follow many of those patterns common to couples who’ve become ‘empty-nesters.’ They’re in their prime, with grown children, with successful careers, and with friends and family who are sometimes a support system…and sometimes not.

Begin Again...Again opens on Bella’s forty-fifth Birthday – a milestone which makes her uncomfortable for a variety of reasons, of which vanity is only a small part. Nevertheless, her family seems intent on forcing her to acknowledge the day. Take Alice’s early-morning text, for example:

Happy Birthday, Bella! Girl, the way I see it, you’ve got two ways to look at the situation: you’re only five years over forty, or you’re still five years under fifty. Pick one, and deal with it. Love ya!

Then, there’s Edward’s ways of wishing Bella a happy birthday:

“You’ve been moaning about your age since the moment I woke you up this morning.”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Yes, you have. You moaned all morning.”

“Edward, you woke me by skimming kisses from my forehead to my mouth to my neck…to my breasts…and further down to between my legs. My age wasn’t why I woke up moaning.”

Her daughter’s way:

“Come on, Mom. Look around us. Look at these magnificent lives we lead. We rise every morning to a bright blue sun, which sets every evening in the most vibrant shades of coral against spectacularly evergreen palms. Everyone we love most in the world are happy and healthy and warm and safe and right on this boat or in our hearts. So why are you so cranky tonight? Because you’re forty-five? You’re young, Mom! We’re both young! We’re two generations of young, Higginbotham women, and…and yeah.”

“Nessie, sweetie, while that little piece of poetry was somewhat simplistic, non-rhyming, and disconnected, it was pretty and precise, and you had me going with it right ‘til you yelled out my age. That ending needs some tweaking as well.”

And…The Spawn’s way:

“Happy Birthday, Mom.”

His sentiments are offered in a much more subdued tone, with a somewhat abashed smile on his handsome, little face.

“Thanks – oh so much.”

“It’s not that bad,” he grins. “Besides,” taking both my hands in his, Anthony pulls back enough to peruse my outfit, “you look perfect for the occasion.”

Geez, this darn…Spawn – makes it so hard for me to even mentally indulge in my cute, little nickname for him.

And last, but certainly not least, there’s this birthday well-wish from Tanya Dennis, aka Edward’s ex-wife and Anthony’s mother:

“Happy Birthday,” Tanya wishes me dryly as she pulls back. “You look good. You really do. And that’s a cute dress.” Her tone, however, says, ‘You don’t look good. You really don’t. And that’s a shitty-looking dress.’

“Aw, thanks, Tanya.” I smile sweetly. “That means a lot coming from you. I only hope I can look half as good as you do, when I’m your age.”

Yeah, the years and a move to the West Coast haven’t changed Bella much, except maybe in the ways that matter.

But it’s as she and Edward proceed with their daily lives, grateful for some things and not-so-grateful for others, that a huge event strikes them both from left field, and they realize they’ll need to adjust their lives all over again. Because this one event, this one new beginning, well…it’s a game changer for everyone involved, and it’s going to affect all their interactions.

The question is…are Edward and Bella ready to Begin Again…Again?

And are you guys ready to come along for the ride?

‘Begin Again…Again’ will begin posting this Monday, August 27th, and will post three times a week.* It will be approximately ten chapters, give or take a chapter or two.

*I’ll be on vacation for a week starting 8/28, so exact dates of posting for the first week are TBD. (Monday and Tuesday. Definitely Monday and Tuesday).

Hope you all enjoy revisiting Bakerella, The Spawn, and, of course…Edward.

Patty

~.~.~

I love the way Patty infuses heart, with humor, and a dash of lemons. I can’t wait to get started on Begin Again...Again!!! We are so happy to feature such a talented writer. Come back anytime!

Be sure to put pattyrose on alert and follow along with us.

♥ Nic

What we're reading in TLS this week:

One thing we can all agree upon, is that a bad-ass Edward makes for an intriguing story. Something to sink your teeth into. We’ve compiled a list of recs that have a collection of strong, assertive, and yes, bad-ass Edwards (and quite possibly Bellas) for you to enjoy. Some stories are old, some stories are new, but in case you need a recap-dive in with us below. We hope that you enjoy these stories just as much as we do! As always, leave the writers some love and let them know TLS sent you!

♥ Nic & Six

A World Away by wandb
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5645432/1/A-World-Away
Bella thinks military men are arrogant womanizers. That is, until she meets Edward, a hot and unpredictable Navy SEAL who quickly deploys for six months. Will he change her mind or leave her brokenhearted? Rated M

All the Wild Horses by elusivetwilight
https://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? Rated M

Dirty Little Secrets by Brits23
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5685388/1/Dirty-Little-Secrets
Bella's new life in Miami is fueled by one anthem: No Regrets. A steamy late night rendezvous with a cocky playboy is just what she needed, but an encounter with a blond doctor leaves her aching for more. Rated M

Doctor’s Orders by mybluesky
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6107382/1/Doctor-s-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? Rated M

M Parfait by ghostreader24
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12869246/1/M-Parfait
Love blossoms as Bella's very own Mr. Perfect takes her on a trip of a lifetime. Rated M

Made for You by shaunna100
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13001181/1/Made-For-You
Bella Swan was enjoying her life working at her dad's bar, until rock-star Edward Masen swooped in and flipped her world upside down. He was handsome, charming, and harboring so much guilt over the death of his brother that his music was suffering. Could Bella be the muse he was looking for? Or will the life of a rock-star be too much for her to handle?
Rated M

Mysterious Graffiti by Michaelmas54
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12989225/1/Mysterious-Graffiti
Knowing something terrible about the future but being unable to warn anyone about what's going to happen without risking your own existence is the dilemma facing Edward Cullen but he decides to take that risk because for once in his life he cares. There's a stealthy build-up to an exciting climax for our Twilight characters. Rated M for the usual reasons. Recommended on Rob Attack. Rated M

Skin Deep by Shadow Masen
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12567927/1/Skin-Deep
Some secrets will damage your reputation. Others will ruin your social life. But then there are secrets that will change the way the world looks at you, now and forever. What would Edward be willing to do to keep such a secret? And who will pay the price? Rated M

Stolen by Rochelle Allison
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9101669/1/Stolen
He stole her heart, and then he stole her father's fortune. Love and forgiveness are nice concepts, but highly improbable. Right? Rated M

Strong Foundations by PlotBunnyWranglers
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10654999/1/
When an amazing opportunity finally comes up to have everything they want, will they take it? Can they remain professional for the sake of success? Celebrating never felt so good. Rated M

The Last Mission by amoredjenaue
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13004052/1/
Sequel to The Geheime Vernietiging. Bourneward and MetBella four years later. Have they escaped the demons of Edward's past and the connections of Bella's family. Or was it merely the beginning? Will Edward have to coat his armor again for one last mission? Rated M

The Mountain Between Us by knicnort3
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13020791/1/The-Mountain-Between-Us
When their plane crashes on a remote Alaskan mountain, two strangers must find a way to work through their differences in order to survive the freezing temperatures and harsh terrain. B/E, AH, HEA Rated M

There Fell a Stillness by HappyInLove
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6324021/1/There-Fell-a-Stillness
A man who doesn't believe in faith. A woman who may be losing hers. Two lost souls collide in the stillness between hope lost and found. "I think you need this more than I do. Everyone needs a little something to believe in sometimes." Rated M

These Days by xrxdanixrx
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6776122/1/These-Days
Life threw me a curve, so I stayed behind. Seeing you now, with your long hair and big dreams, it's hard to admit I'm not doing much these days...except thinking of you. Rated M

Vancouver Waves by OtherRootVegetable19
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12741123/1/
At school, Edward Cullen and Bella Swan exist in entirely different social circles. One chance encounter allows them to see themselves in a new light, however, they agree to keep their budding friendship under wraps. With each harboring their own secrets, the question remains: which one will fall first? Rated M