Showing posts with label MandyLeigh87. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MandyLeigh87. Show all posts

Monday, July 13, 2015

Welcome to TLS Nursery!



Welcome to TLS Nursery!

Here we nurture all of the newborn stories (stories published within the last thirty days or so) that we love! Everything in our nursery has been read and approved by a few, or a lot, of the TLS ladies, and we think you'll enjoy cuddling up to these babies as well.

As ever, there are some incredible stories to check out this month.

Remember to leave these lovely ladies some love, and let them know TLS sent you!

♥ Kim 

Vices by allihavetodoisdream
A struggling girl lives a colorless life. Until it all changes and her world is filled with neon-bright color. She soon gets swept away in the luxury and glamour of her new life. But everything comes with a price. ExB. Rated M for violence, drug use, language, and sexual content.

A Case of You by SparrowNotes24
He's her warning. She's his sweet temptation. An addict always wants what he can't have, even if it will ruin him. "Speak of the devil and she shall appear. Who am I kidding? I'm Beelzebub."

Island Nights by compass54
I would always remember him as a dangerously beautiful twenty-two-year-old, a sensual and affectionate lover who could put a gun to a man's head and pull the trigger. Why I couldn't forget him was no mystery. I was still in love with him.

The Broomstick Train by Soleil2
"They buried them deep, but they wouldn't lie still, For cats and witches are hard to kill." -Oliver Wendall Holmes

Between Goals by tiffanyanne3
He's green eyes, messy hair, and a brilliant smile. He's confusing and exasperating. He's just a teammate, the goalie for our recreational soccer club, but when it comes to our flirtation, he plays forward. I didn't particularly like Edward Cullen the first couple of times I met him. But now? I want him. This is what happens between goals. BxE, rated M for the usual reasons.

Watch and See by JiffyKate
Her sexual experience is limited, at best. She's never found pleasure in it, so what's the point? Now, though, she wants what he's giving. Seeing the women fall apart against his window has her yearning and wanting to the point she almost combusts sitting on the ledge, merely an observer. What would it be like if she were one of them?

I Do, Maybe by twilightladies
Swan's White Weddings is the love of Bella's life, consuming her days and nights, but she wouldn't have it any other way. After securing Chicago's wedding of the year for Tanya Turner, the elite socialite daughter of Turner Industries' CEO, Bella thinks all her hard work has finally paid off. It's just a shame she's already well-acquainted with the groom.

Birmingham by ThisIsReallyHappening
I loved her, even when she didn't know love was possible. Most folks don't see the beauty in that, but if they saw what I felt, maybe the world would be a little less blind. ExB. Rated M.

Through my Eyes by muselover75
After witnessing Bella's broken heart, Edward's determined to put the pieces back together.

Born of Ash and Fire by MandyLeigh87
As the kingdom prepares for a grand tournament, Prince Edward becomes captivated with the Blacksmith's daughter. But despite her love for him, her secret may tear them apart forever. BxE Rated M EPOV


Mad Masen by yalegirl915
Edward Masen was once on his way to being one of the most feared gangsters in Chicago. He didn't believe he deserved forgiveness for any of the things he'd done, but when he meets Bella Swan, he learns a lot of things not only about himself, but life in general. AU/AH


Friday, March 9, 2012

TLS Fics of the Week 3/8 - 3/14/2012: The Fab Five Reviews are UP!



A May to December Romance by Positively Fourth Street
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6632226/1/A_May_to_December_Romance
My name is Isabella Swan and today, I signed a contract that would put me in the steel tight clutches of a man I didn't know, for four years. A girl's gotta pay for college somehow, right? AH. Come meet 'Sugar Daddy' Edward. Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Nichole Stewart

Like many fic readers in the fandom, I was looking for an AH Olderward, and I happened upon a diamond in the rough. There aren't nearly enough stories out there that encapsulate so many emotions and put them on display in such an authentic manner. I must admit, I was initially titillated by the idea of an innocent Bella and a mature Edward to mold her into the perfect sex-toy, but what I got was a
whole lot of everything else, and I've not been disappointed yet.

The story begins with a lonely, imaginative child, cruelly neglected and displaced by both parents. Her childhood was severely disappointing and debilitating to her sense of self-worth. Books and education become her only friends, as she is wise enough to know that when it comes to her parents, it's better the devil you know than chancing foster care.

Self-involved, unloving parents leave her ill-prepared to face adulthood alone, and she comes up with a brilliantly audacious scheme to finance her future: selling herself on the Internet for the opportunity to attend an Ivy League college and to leave her humdrum, poverty-stricken life far behind.

James and Victoria pair up as unlikely matchmakers in this sensitive portrayal of two lonely, lost people starving for companionship and security. Edward, the quintessential object of success and attraction, has recently lost his live-in girlfriend. He's barely noticed how she's slowly diminished the color of his life until the day she walks out, looking for a man that will give her the life she's become accustomed to, and the commitment she desires badly which Edward cannot, or will not, give her. Bella, who has ventured through life like a wraith, is finally able to look at her life objectively and takes drastic measures to change the trajectory of her life. If she stays in Forks, continuing to live the life her parents have prepared her for, she will be stifled and what's left of her inner light will be forever extinguished.

Her desperate, but well-crafted, ad on the Sugar Daddies website could have been answered by anyone, but on a whim of levity, James forwards the ad to Edward, a successsful architect and scion of one of New York's wealthiest families, who is both repulsed by the premise and intrigued by the obvious intelligence of the request. They exchange numerous messages that reveal their humour and intelligence, finally deciding to meet in person. The meeting successfully behind them, she undertakes yet another trip away from Forks, hopefully her last.

Emmett plays his part as the lovable, hard-working foil to Rosalie, the pampered princess and only daughter of Carlisle and Esme and Edward's sister. She's everything we're used to: pushy, demanding, calculating, brash and cruel with the emotional quotient of a killer white. She's used to getting her way and hates Bella's presence in her brother's life and in his home. She married a working-class man that cannot and will not provide her with all the good things in life and her access to Edward's resources is diminishing. Edward begins to feel the pressure of yielding to appease Rosalie and enriching Bella's world and convincing her of her own innate value.

While this is a work in progress, we readers expect a "natural progression" of the plot and some explosive lemons in the future, as the chemistry between Bella and Edward is off the charts. They seem destined for one another and Bella is slowly bringing color and light into Edward's life.




Easy by Mandyleigh
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7815298/1/Easy
Everyone thought it was strange, how easy I'd gotten over him. It was all a lie. I held on with the tips of my fingers, burning in pain just to make it look that way. It was hard. The hardest thing I'd ever done. BxE  Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: FFPassion

It's not a secret that I'm a huge fan of MandyLeigh87’s work and I've read all her stories. The day she announced she was going to retire from writing fan fiction I cried. So when I got an alert for Easy in my inbox I couldn't wait to open the link. I didn’t even need to read the summary. I just right dived in.

In the first chapter of Easy we meet a recently divorced Bella who has just received her 10yr high school reunion invitation. Bella is hesitant to attend as her life is a let down and the last thing she wants to do is go & see how happy her old school peers are and how successful they've become.

My fingers trembled as I held the small postcard in my hand. I looked over my shoulder at the mounds of boxes that took up half of my new apartment.
How could I go back when my life was such a mess? I had plans. I had dreams. And somehow they seemed to stay just out of reach. Never quite close enough.
I hated admitting that I was a twenty-eight year old divorcee. I couldn't stand this new place. It was barely large enough for the things I'd brought from our house. His house, I guess. It wasn't mine anymore. He wasn't mine anymore.
My entire life was in these boxes now.

Bella gets a phone call from her mother who wants her daughter to come back to visit. She tells Bella how it would be good for her. But Bella isn't convinced and is quickly getting tired of the conversation until Renee tells her that "he's separated."
After the phone call with her mother, Bella finds herself looking through her senior year book, reading what her classmates had to say about her.

You're so sweet, Bella. Never change! –Jessica
Best friend, I can't wait for college. I just know it's going to be everything we hope it will be. I'm so lucky to have you in my life! XOXO –Alice
I laughed at the next entry.
Rosalie Hale
She really did know how to leave an impression in so few words.
I cringed as I turned the page and found his entry.
Bella,
The first time I saw you, I didn't think you were real. I thought I'd taken a baseball to the head and was lying on the ground unconscious. If that was the case, I didn't want to wake up.
You made this place tolerable for me. It wasn't baseball and it wasn't even my friends. It was you. You didn't treat me like everyone else did. You didn't see me like everyone else did. You saw the real me.
Despite the fact that high school is over and we're all moving away, I want you to remember how much you changed my life. I don't care if we're a thousand miles away from each other, just know that I'll always be loving you.
Edward
p.s. You look really hot right now
I slammed the book shut and buried my head in my hands.
Everyone thought it was strange, how easy I'd gotten over him. It was all a lie. I held on with the tips of my fingers, burning in pain just to make it look that way. It was hard. The hardest thing I'd ever done. Harder than allowing myself to fall in love again. Harder than this divorce. Just…hard. I didn't know if I could face him again, or any of them for that matter. That part of my life was a lie. Easy.

Bella closes her yearbook, but the memories stay with her even after she's gone to bed.
After some thought, she decides to go to the reunion despite the embarrassment of her divorce and not achieving what she had dreamed of doing with her life. Despite all of that, she had to go because she had to see him. Edward.

MandyLeigh87 updates regularly so you're not left to wonder what will happen next for too long.
I promise you will not be disappointed with this story, so what are you waiting for?



Head Over Feet by Iambeagle
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7829578/1/Head_Over_Feet
It's simple, really. A story about two best friends realizing they're head over feet in love.
Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Jaime Arkin & obsmama

Did everyone see my post in the nursery this week? I'm gonna poach it to post with my review of Head Over Feet by iambeagle for Fic of The Week. Anyone who knows me, knows I dig the fluff... I swoon over it! I love good banter just as much as a good lemon and with Head Over Feet iambeagle does not disappoint.

Bella and Edward have been friends and neighbors for years never single at the same time they've built a solid friendship. Through the chapters there are hints that Edward has wanted more... wants more now, but Bella seems a bit oblivious. Or, maybe she's just afraid of taking that step and messing up a perfect friendship. Either way I love the characters iambeagle has created in this and I just adore the relationship she's built between these two.

There is the sweet...

I let out an unattractive laugh. "Whatever. Don't lie. You were always Team Pete."His brows furrowed. "No, I wasn't."

"Oh my God!" I shoved his shoulder. "Yes, you were!"

"No." He rubbed his shoulder. "I was always Team Whatever Makes Bella Happy."

and the funny...

"I mean, you don't want to take someone like that home to meet your parents."

"I don't?" he questioned, setting his chopsticks on the edge of his plate. "Who should I take home to meet my parents, Bella?"

"I don't know, but not someone like that."

"You keep saying 'someone like that'. What do you mean?"

"You know, like," I cupped my hands to hover over my breasts, "Chesty and...so forward with what she wants." The hostess looked our way again. I realized my hands were still placed in front of my chest, so I quickly picked up my glass.

And finally the sweet lemony stuff...

"You've been holding out on me," I panted, becoming breathless and needy as Edward hummed against my neck.

His hair fell in my face before he looked up, catching my expression. "How so?"

"You're a really good kisser," I claimed, running my index finger over his bottom lip. He shook with a low laugh and I scoffed. "Why are you laughing? I'm being serious."

"I know you are," he said, kissing my finger before I pulled it away. "That's why it's so funny."

"Well, I think it's rude. Lips like that need to be shared," I explained, grabbing the back of his neck and pulling him back down to kiss me.

His lips moved against mine deliberately slow, then he pulled away. "I'm sorry I didn't share my...kissing skills with you sooner?"

"You're forgiven. Why haven't we kissed before?" I asked, my chin suddenly feeling raw from his scruff.

"Because you never wanted to," he said simply, truthfully. "Or something," he added with a grin.

I love a 'friends becoming more' plot, and this story is perfection. These two know each other so incredibly well, and Edward has made it clear he wants more... The suspense now is whether Bella will realize what she's wanted and needed has been in front of her all those years.

Go now... seriously. iambeagle is 10 chapters in and updates quite frequently.  It's quickly moved into place on my 'must drop everything to read' list! it puts a smile on face with every update and it will do the same for you!

I agree with everything Jaime said nothing makes my heart happier then a sweet romance.  This story is so funny and relatable.  I feel like I could be friends with this Bella when she says things like this.

"Hey," he barked, causing me to jump.
"Hi. What? Shit."
"What is going on with you?" he questioned, using a softer voice this time.
"Me? Nothing is going on with me," I lied. "Why? Sup witchu?"

I haven’t been disappointed in anything I have read from iambeagle and this maybe my favorite so far.  The humor and butterflies are all there and as we watch these friends fumble towards more, I have a feeling the sexy times are going to explosive one way or another LOL.  Come and read with me and Jaime and flail at the cuteness and great characters!




It's a Sign by Carano
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6804891/1/
Edward's the single father to an amzaing little girl... with a hearing disability. "Imagine my surprise when she crouched down to Emma's level... and began signing with her." Language and lemons. No angst. EPOV. Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Lisa Hollett

It’s a Sign was the fic that popped my CaraNo cherry. I saw it rec’d on Twitter as a Daddyward fic that was complete and wasn’t to be missed. So I checked it out and could not stop reading! I read the whole story thinking to myself, how on earth have I not ever read this amazing writer? I’m a huge Daddyward fan, and Signward is really one of the best. This was one of Cara No’s first stories, and checking her profile just now I see that Wednesday is its one-year anniversary, so all the more fitting to be selected as Fic of the Week this week!

Edward is a single father to five-year-old Emma, who was born deaf. Her mother is not and has never really been in the picture. When little Emma goes wandering off in the grocery store, we meet Bella, who Edward cannot tear his eyes away from.  She is a workout buddy of Edward’s sister-in-law Rose, and is in college, pursuing a ballet degree at Julliard. Soon he hires her to be Emma’s baby-sitter, and his suffering begins.

--
The thing is that Bella's an open person. That's easy to see, and she's always happy, but I don't know how to ask her anything without coming off as… someone who's interested.
Not that I'm interested in Bella in that way… well, that's a lie.
Fuck.
Confession time.
I've turned into a hormonal teenager. And I shower a lot. Very, very cold ones.
--

This is not a stereotypical “Daddy’s sleeping with the nanny” fic. This is a story of a father who never got a real chance to be a carefree young man. Edward’s been tied down by responsibility since his very early twenties, and he’s made a very successful life for himself as a composer of music for Broadway shows. As a result, he works at home and takes care of Emma and doesn’t get out much. His family has been pestering him to “put himself out there” and date more, but he was so burned by his experience with Emma’s biological mother that he’d rather not take the risk… Until Bella dances into his life.

Bella is only nineteen when the story begins, and Edward berates himself for having feelings for a girl so young. He quickly comes to care very deeply about Bella, but he cannot imagine she could reciprocate, or that she would ever want anything serious with him due to her age. I mean, here he is in his late twenties, all settled with a daughter and a job, and he assumes that she would never want to settle down so young. Edward, being Edward, internalizes all of this and never speaks to Bella about his developing emotions or hopes or fears.

And when they finally do connect, he’s afraid to ask her what, if anything other than sex, she wants out of their relationship. He figures his best course of action is to not tell her how strongly he feels about her out of fear of pushing her away.

--
If casual is what I can have with her, then casual it is.
What I really want is for her to move in with me. What I really want is for her to be mine. What I really want is for her to be Emma's mother.
And while I'm at it, I also wish that Santa was real.
But I live in the real world, and I know that what I want is… impossible to get. And with that knowledge, I'm taking whatever she'll give me.
--

Cara No does an innovative job of delineating when words in the story are spoken or signed in order for the reader to have a full grasp of how Edward, Bella, Emma and the whole gang communicate. (And the whole gang is here, Carlisle and Esme are Edward’s parents, Emmett is Edward’s brother and Emma’s favorite uncle happily married to Rose, Jasper is a friend of Edward’s who is also a single dad to a deaf daughter, Emma’s best friend, and Alice is Bella’s roommate.)

But just because Edward is tearing himself up inside over Bella, don’t think this is a heavy story. It’s a family story, full of love and humor. Emma is a darling, precocious little girl who loves her daddy and adores her new friend Bella. From Emma’s perspective, it’s all so simple.

--
*Daddy?*
"Yeah?"
*Boyfriend and girlfriend kiss. You have to kiss Bella. And hug her a lot. And buy her flowers and candy. I like candy. I love Skittles.*
I-… um… okay, uh? So, I'm taking dating advice from my daughter? And um… she's okay with this?
Shit, I'm… a mess.
"I know you love Skittles," I chuckled, shaking my head to get some fucking clarity. "But baby, are you okay with this? Is it okay with you if I hug Bella a lot and kiss her?"
*Yes, because if you don't kiss, there will not be more babies.*
And that's how the air escaped my lungs.
--

I keep a copy of It’s a Sign on my phone and my Kindle to re-read whenever I need cheering up or just want something to put a smile on my face. There is pretty much no angst, unless you count Edward’s angst about being a typical male dumbass and what he puts himself through due to his inability to actually talk to the girl he wants to spend the rest of his life with.

This story will also have a special place in my heart because it introduced me to the magic that is Cara No’s writing. I know once you read it, it will take up residence in your heart as well.


 
The Princess and The E by CLWN
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6920528/1/The_Princess_and_the_E
When Bella meets the mysterious 'E' he calls her his Princess and she's soon drawn into his dangerous world of organised crime. But this is no fairytale, so when Edward finds himself in trouble, it's up to his Princess to save him. OOC/AH. ExB AxJ RxEm. Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Kitty

I remember when I first stumbled upon The Princess and the E a while back.  It was 3 chapters in and I thought to myself “this is going to be an awesome story!”  Since then, I have not once been wrong about my first assumption.  The author, Kelly Clwn, has continued to provide us with a true love story while adding in a little bit of angst, a little bit of drama, and a whole lot of laughs.  This is not your typical mobward story folks, it’s better!

The story is told completely from BPOV and begins with a prologue that pulls you in with the amount of foreshadowing it provides.  Bella’s been arrested, Jacob is a detective trying to ruin Edward, Edward and Bella are married with children, and Charlie is dead.

"No one's seen him for days. Including you." He said smugly.
"Are you're expecting him to waltz in and rescue you like last time?" He laughed nastily. "Not going to happen this time Bella, I made sure that fucker was gone before I brought you in."
We sat in silence for several minutes until there was a commotion outside the door.
I jumped as someone pounded on the door. "Police, open up." A muffled voice shouted. I laughed loudly.
"You were saying Jacob?" I looked up and smiled victoriously.
"What happened to you Bella?" Jacob whispered, pushing back in his chair knocking it to the ground as he stood up and stormed to the door throwing it open.
"What's up Princess." Edward said nonchalantly as he pushed forcefully into the room and grinned at me. "How many more times am I gonna have to bust your sweet ass out of jail?" he laughed.
"Edward" I cried jumping up into his arms and kissing him passionately, his hands went straight for my ass as he held me up, moaning as I pressed my hips against him. He turned, still kissing me and walked out of the small interrogation room.
"The children." I gasped as I pulled back for breath.
"My mom and dad have them. He didn't tell you that?" I shook my head no.
Edward put me down and pulled me under his arm. He smiled softly and kissed my forehead, before his face-hardened, his eyes cold as he turned to Jacob, who had followed us out.
"Do not fuck with me."
"You don't scare me Cullen." Jacob spat.

As we jump back to the beginning, we learn that Bella is a new student at Forks High School and is just doing her time before she can move away after graduation.  Time moves swiftly as Bella makes new friends and begins to date Mike Newton.

Sure, Mike was cute in a generic boy next-door kind of way, but he certainly wasn’t the boy for me. I think he considered me his girlfriend, although we’d never actually spoken about it, and I hadn’t made out with him or anything.

What Bella didn’t realize was that her life was about to change drastically and things would never be the same again.

I thought I had it all sussed, my life was mapped out, and I was bang on course. Boys, lust, fun, love, excitement, life in general could wait. But nothing is ever that simple, there's always something or someone that throws a spanner in the works and despite all your best laid plans, everything you ever thought you wanted changes in the blink of an eye.
For me it happened the second time I met Edward Cullen.

Edward takes an immediate liking to Bella and gives her the nickname Princess. Over the next few chapters, we witness the intense attachment these two have for one another.  Edward is a hardass, foulmouthed teen who is used to always getting what he wants.  He is also part of the mafia, as are all the Cullen men.  There are two sides to Edward that we get to know throughout the story.  To everyone, including his family, he is referred to as E, the no non-sense killer that will shoot before asking questions.

"I still can't believe you call him Edward."
"Huh?"
"No one calls him that, he's E or Cullen, only his parents and his grandfather call him by his name, most people don't even know it, you must have made some impression on him if he told you."
"I just asked him." I shrugged; I didn't get what the big deal was. "Wait, is that why you and Emmett were so shocked in the car?"
"Yep, to hear you call him that and not have him react badly was a shock, usually he goes postal. I think our little E might have a crush."
"I doubt it." I said blushing; there was no way someone like Edward would ever be interested in someone like me.
"He calls you Princess!" she laughed.
"Yeah, but that's only because he didn't know my name until Emmett asked when he was on the phone to you." I argued.

To Bella though, he is Edward, the sweet and caring boyfriend who will to anything to keep her safe and happy.

"I don't want to talk to E!"
"What?"
"I want to talk to Edward. Not E!"
"You're talking to me Princess. E, Edward, whatever, it's the fucking same."
"Not to me. E is cold and hard and unfeeling. Edward is funny and loving and kind. E is all business and frightening. Edward is understanding and adorable. E can do terrible things but Edward never could. I love you Edward. I love all of you. E, Edward, whatever, but right now I want Edward. E might kill people all the time, but I'm pretty sure Edward only ever shot one person!"
"Um, you're kinda making me sound like I have a split personality disorder."
"Because you freaking do!" I yelled. "It's E who thinks it's kill or be killed, E thinks what wasn't that difficult, E thinks it was easy to shoot his best friend's father when he was ten years old, but what does Edward think? Edward, the little boy who had no choice? The little boy who was fun and young and happy before all this happened? Edward, who according to everyone, has only just come back and whose family love him so much, so, so, much that they would do anything to keep him around, because they missed him. My Edward, who I love with all my heart? What does he think and feel? Because the fact you just drove a six hour round trip to check that the sister you saved was okay proves you feel something!"

Edward loves Bella almost to the point of obsession, although, instead of frightening me, it makes me envious.  While it does contain a mafia backplot, the main storyline is centered on Edward and Bella and their relationship.  The ups and downs they experience and what it takes to make a relationship like theirs work.

The Cullens play an important part in this story as well.  In most stories, we see Rose and Edward butting heads and always arguing with each other, but due to past events involving the two of them, they are very close and supportive of one another.  Esme and Carisle are so warm and loving, it makes me wish I could be a part of their family.  Emmett provides us with the comic relief as always and Jasper is the brainiac in the family.  Alice is not the typical canon character that we are used too.  She is more of mystery and very quiet, but when she does speak, she can control the room.   The whole group takes Bella in under their wing and makes her feel apart of their family right off the bat.

I could really go on all day about how fantastic this story is, but I wont.  Instead, I will just insist you check it out and see for yourself why it is one of my favorite stories.  There is a group on facebook where Kelly posts teasers if you are interested in joining :)
http://www.facebook.com/groups/241576872568433/

Sunday, January 15, 2012

TLS Fics of the Week 1/12 - 1/18/12: The Fab Five Reviews are up!



The Slowest Burn by Typokween (triple winner!!)
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7076900/1/The_Slowest_Burn
360 : He took my underwear, hung them from his back pocket, then said, "These are mine." - AH, E/B, Lemons. Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: evilnat

When I volunteered to write the review for The Slowest Burn by Typokween I sat and stared at my word document.  What can you say about a story that captivates you, makes you drop everything when it updates, and has you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what’s going to happen next?

Well, I just said it didn’t I?

The Slowest Burn had me from the first chapter.  It depicts a real world where high school kids don’t have the perfect lives.  And I love a possessive Edward and a not so naïve Bella.

Bella is a high school student struggling to make it.  She used to be invisible, unpopular, until she became friends with Rosalie Hale.  Then she joined the cheerleading squad and her life became that of one of the ‘cool kids’.  But was she ready for it?  And really is it all it’s cracked up to be?  Bella is learning that maybe it isn’t.  She hooks up with Edward and gets dragged into his world; his obsession with her is a little scary to her until she gets to know him further, but he is hard to read and doesn’t give out a lot of information about himself, even to her, and he loses his temper a lot.

"Hello, Bella."

I blink in surprise. "How do you know my name?"

He smirks and touches my cheek with his thumb. "I know everything about you, Isabella Swan…"

I gulp and turn my head. "How do you know my name?" I repeat, practically growling as I shoulder his arm away from me.

"Jacob Black," he says in defeat and leans against the rail again, but this time his side is pressed against mine.

I snort, "Of course." I shake my head. "Well I hope you know that he and I are not friends anymore," I snap.

"Really?" he teases me. "Hard to tell, what with the way you each act like the other one doesn't exist and all," he mutters sarcastically.

I turn to tell him to mind his business when I hear Jessica, on the other side of the glass door, asking if anyone's seen me.

"Shit," I curse under my breath. "You have to hide me." I look up at Cullen and clutch his sweater in my hands. "Please," I beg him.

His face hardens in concern. "Is someone bothering you?"

I pull on his sweater and start for the stairs. "No! Just come on! I don't feel like pretending to be sweet, little Isabella Swan right now, okay? Can you understand that? You look like a guy who plays a role. Don't you ever just want to be your fucking self sometimes?"

He removes my fingers from his sweater and links them with his own. "There's a pool house around back," he replies.

I grin at him. "Perfect, let's go." I yank him along with me.

Edward is an emancipated minor and has had a tough upbringing.  He deals drugs and has a major temper; his life is complicated to say the least.  Throughout the story we get hints that he’s had a thing for Bella for years.  I fell in love with Edward right from the start, there is just something about the way he’s so angry and possessive that gets to me.

"Do you…" he pauses and buries his face in my hair while his hands squeeze my waist almost painfully.”Do you have any idea how long I've-" he exhales a shaky breath and slides one of his hands up my waist and over my breasts to cup my face and tilt my face towards his.

I know he means to kiss me, just like Jasper had when we were at Giovanni's. And just like at Giovanni's I know that if I kiss Cullen right now we'll be together. Because I don't know who Cullen is, but I know he's intense and completely possessive and territorial. I've watched him over the years, unintentionally picking up on his habits. I remember that night, the same way I remember how his lips felt against mine and how his mouth tasted. What it feels like when he bunches my breasts up in his hands. I suddenly have a hard time breathing.

"I have to go," I mutter truthfully.

He slides his nose down the side of my face and hovers his lips over mine. "No you don't," he whispers without kissing me.

"Yes I do. Please let me go," I beg him with my eyes clenched shut. "I can't do this right now, okay? I just—oh!" I gasp when he thrusts his hips against me and I feel every inch of him pressed along my body. I open my eyes and whimper every time he rubs against me with his hips, causing enough friction between us to start a fire.

"If I see him touch you like that again?" his eyes stare daggers at my own before he leans down and whispers into my ear, "I will break his throwing arm."

We meet a lot of supporting cast members along the way that are important to the detailed storyline.

Royce is Edward’s best friend and partner in crime.  He also had a secret affair with Rosalie.

Rosalie is Bella’s best friend whose parents are important members of the community and leave her to deal with her own problems alone.  She’s not as perfect as she appears on the outside and I find her to be a little judgmental when it comes to Bella and what could affect her reputation.

Emmett and Jasper go to school with Bella and Rosalie and are on the football team.  Jasper and Bella have a short relationship, but really she is only with him for his ‘status’.  And Emmett is a great friend who likes Rosalie even though she has her problems and stands by both her and Bella when times are tough.

Jake is an old friend of Bella’s who hangs around with Edward and hasn’t spoken to Bella since she became popular.

And then there’s Alice.  She’s the character I love to hate.  She gets to me every time she appears.  She is in love with Edward, and is jealous of his relationship with Bella, and as such causes trouble between them every moment she can.

There are so many different passages I could post but the truth is I couldn’t choose which ones, so if you want to know more you just gotta go read!
The Slowest Burn by Typokween is an edgy, dirty-dark real-life kind of story.  It’s written from Bella’s point of view and her internal monologue is great, she’s just a regular high school kid dealing with life, love and friends.

I’ve seen a lot of tweets and comments on Facebook about The Slowest Burn.  There are a group of people who think it’s just about screwing and fighting.  Which, I guess there is a lot of.  But it’s so well written and there is a lot more going on than just the sex and violence on the surface.  The lemons are hot; I’m not gonna lie.  They are graphic and not glossed over.  But from Bella’s point of view it just fits.  Same goes for the violence, which really I think there isn’t that much of, and yes there are arguments but that goes with the territory when your boyfriend needs anger management!

When you scratch the surface and delve into it, it’s a great read.  Check it out!

Nat
xx



Wild Horses by Mandyleigh
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7680652/1/Wild_Horses
They say wild horses should run unbridled or the spirit dies. They weren't meant to be contained. Neither was I. Sometimes you have to go back to who you were to find your place. All it took was one summer. And one smile from a boy I used to know. BxE Twilight - Rated:M
Reviewed by: Cejstwimom

Everyone knows that moment. That point in your life when you know that everything's going to be different, right? Like with the flip of a switch you realize everything has changed and nothing you knew would ever be the same. You wouldn't be the same. I wish I could say that I recognized that moment when it hit me, but I didn't. Instead it came and went as quick as the slamming door on a rusty beat up Chevy truck. Leaving me so completely oblivious to the fact that it had even happened that I couldn't have possibly prepared myself. It was the summer before I left for college. Everything was about to change. I was about to change. And so begins MandyLeigh87's captivating story "Wild Horses". Having last visited her father Charlie's ranch when she was five, Bella’s journey back is more than she bargained for. She is about to learn more about herself, than she ever knew, through the eyes of someone who very much remembers that last visit. It is through his attempts at taming a wild horse named Lightning, where Bella is reminded of her love of her life.

"Lightning?" I whispered. I took a few tentative steps forward until I was close enough to touch it. I reached my hand out and brushed it against his nose. It snorted but didn't move. I inched my hand up its long snout and scratched right between its eyes.

I pulled myself up onto the wooden fence so I could get closer. Lightning suddenly bucked back and hit me square in the chest with his head. I fell back and landed with a thud against the hard ground.

"Ouch!" I winced. That fucking hurt.

"Are you okay ma'am?" I instantly recognized the man's voice from earlier a moment before a pair of hands picked me up from the ground.

"Yes. And I'm not old enough to be a ma'am." I spun around and my breath hitched in my throat. He was close enough that I could actually see him now. The moonlight was playing perfectly off his messy hair and highlighted his jawline. There was something almost familiar in his eyes but I knew it was impossible. I didn't even know him. "Thanks," I whispered.

"Bella?" He asked. My brow furrowed in confusion. I never told him my name. And even if Charlie had, only my friends and family ever called me Bella.

"Do I know you?" I took a step back.

"I'm Edward. I work for your dad."

"Yeah I know. How did you know my name?"

He smirked at me and ran his fingers through his hair. "I see you've met Lightning."

"Seems to have a little attitude problem."

"Not really. Just not too keen on being tamed," he laughed.

"Isn't that the same thing?"

Bella’s time at the ranch has her reconnecting with her past while working towards her future. Reliving some childhood moments with Edward are beautiful reminders of forgotten times, wants and desires. Having no recollection of any of her stays at the ranch, Bella relies on Edward to show her the ropes and to provide the stories of her past. Probably one of the more original settings for their relationship to develop takes place in a storm cellar, also a memory of from their first time together.

"You were my first kiss, Bella. You swept me right off my feet." He smirked and started kicking around the dirt on the ground. I'd always thought my first kiss was with buck-toothed Billy behind the slide on the playground when I was ten. Thank God.

"And then I left you," I said dramatically. "Has all the makings of a soap opera tragedy." I opened the jar and tried to catch another firefly.

"Well I don't know about that. I mean you did come back."

My breath hitched in my throat when he took another step towards me. "So…what else do you know about me?"

He smiled and sighed. "We used to run through Farmer Johnson's fields in the back and pretend we were flying. And we built a fort in the storm cellar and developed our own language. Your dad and Pop used to take us fishing with them at the pond and we'd float around in the little rowboat while they drank beer and talked sports. Sometimes at night, when the sky was really clear, we would sit out in the yard on a blanket and make shapes out of the stars." He shook his head. "And one time I conned Pop into driving me out here late at night. I stole your horse from the stable, threw rocks at your window and asked if you wanted to take a ride with me."

This completed story totally captivated my attention as it updated as there are many underlying themes throughout which made it such an interesting story to read. The author defines it as a "’Country Fried Fairytale’. It's overly romantic and fairly fluffy”, but it really is so much more. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.



Outbound by Aftrnoondlight (repeat winner!!)
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7239880/1/Outbound
Two beautiful souls humbly traveling life's lonely path, until fate suddenly shows her hand. Will Edward and Bella surrender willingly... A tender, romantic tale of love and life in the clouds.
Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Les Sharpe

Okay, confession time.

When I was asked to write the review for Outbound  this week, of course I was honored to be able to write some words about one of my very favorite stories. Then, I thought to myself, boy, this will be an easy one, because I've already written a review for a different site and I figured,hey, I'll just tweak that one a bit, and viola, I'll be done.

Well, that was all fine and dandy until I read the review I'd written previously and realized that I wrote it when Outbound  was still a WIP, before I was able to appreciate this amazing story by aftrnoondlight in all its completed glory. So, now I'm going to start from scratch (even if I use some of the same words) ... not to mention, writing a new review meant re-reading Outbound, and that is NEVER a bad thing.

aftrnoondlight is made up of authors jarkin33 and phoebes.promise, both talented in their own right, but put them together, and well, the talent pool has increased at least a hundred fold, maybe even a thousand. The way they weave words together to make them more ... more than just letters on a page, or a screen, is unparallelled. Words that make you see and feel and hear and carry you away, always leaving you wanting more.

One of my favorite lines from the whole story is the second sentence of the very first paragraph ... yes, people, the second one!

Feathering fingers through newly tousled layers, I licked chilled lips from the brisk autumn evening.

Talk about reaching out and grabbing you, huh?

*sigh* Do you see what I mean? The words are just … more.

Edward owns a restaurant, Breeze, that he inherited from his mother when she passed away six years ago. This Edward, well, he's as swoony as they come. All sexy and flirty, confident with a dash of vulnerability thrown in just to make him even more … he's almost too much. White shirt with one button too many undone, dark blue jean, platinum watch-wearing, beer aficionado too much.

He propped, resting his head against his hand. The shine of his large watch illuminated green eyes. He considered, thought and pause; his face was suddenly so expressive and beautiful.

"The flavor is almost impossible to define… right? It's mysterious, overwhelming. So much happening at once." He trailed a finger near my temple, agonizing and igniting. "It reminds me of a complicated woman who's worth… every moment of trouble." My hand was in his, teasing across knuckles. "So… did I accomplish my goal?"

"Your goal?" I whispered, lost in sensation, as fingers dusted across my palm.
"The beer. You'll come have another… with me… soon?"

"Yes. God, yes." A light chuckle startled. "No. I mean… sure. Actually, I should go."

"Wait." Pulling me to stand, he kept a firm grasp. "We'll go together. Let me just get the lights."

Swoon.

And Bella … I love Bella. She's one of my favorite Bella's. She's quirky and natural. She blushes and rambles and says the most bizarre things. She's also a flight attendant. After a night where their physical connection takes over, they meet again on a flight from Chicago to New York City where Edward is going to visit his sister, Rose, who is dying of cancer. Their emotional connection grows, strengthens, with each encounter.

"My turn." The hum and flow of the high altitude silenced her approach. She lingered, barely tapping the rim of a short, simple wine glass.

"Thanks." I mirrored her genuine smile and attempt. "Are you going to school me on the fine wine of Eclipse Air…"

"I can… I could, you know." She leaned for privacy, playfully narrowing gorgeous eyes. "I'm pretty damn prolific in the vino department. You and your beer snob presentation… I could totally take you down." She erupted in a self-inflicted blush, shifting in very high, dark wedge heels. "I still can't believe this," she hushed, wrinkling her nose.

Of course there's sex. There's hot, sultry, passionate sex. These two are old enough to know what they like and aren't afraid to ask for it. They're not afraid to enjoy each other, and boy do they ever, even during a bout of the flu and during a wedding reception … not their own in case you were wondering.

In the midst of this whirlwind love affair, there are plenty of others to watch this journey. Bella's niece, Mak, who thinks her Aunt B is all that and a bag of chips. Edward's nephew, Henry, piano maestro at age 10 ... taught by none other than his Uncle Edward. Rose is a shooting star, appearing and disappearing so fast, but you'll pay attention while she's here. And then … there's Aunt Mary. Lord have mercy! Without a doubt the best original character I've ever come across. Truly.

"Well come, come… My god! This is exciting. Isn't this exciting…" She motioned, gripping my shoulders, reaching high to kiss my cheek. "Of course it's you. Well that's just fine. I'm Mary. Mary Swan. Aunt Mary…. and for once our Isabella didn't exaggerate." Pulling, taking the goods and treats from my arms, she leaned close. "You know, she's wordy, that one…" Turning, gesturing to follow, she shouted behind. Shades of yellow, green, purple covered and decorated, blending into pine floors and cabinets. "You're as gorgeous as she told us." More winking over animal print glasses, she had a warm, natural aura and ease.

I want an Aunt Mary, just saying.

Outbound  is a love story, but it's more. It's a story about family, but it's more. It's a story about not waiting to take what you want, but it's more. Outbound  is incredible, but … more. Jaime and Phoebe are two of my very favorite people who have written some of my most favorite stories. Read this one. As I often tell these two beautiful girls - their words make my heart happy. I promise they'll do the same for yours.

Erin~ (les16)



Meet the Masens by FictionFreak95 (repeat winner!!)
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
Reviewed by: Crooked Smile

Don’t you love it when a heated fight turns into a steamy fuck? Take the Masens’ life as a long, in one way or another still ongoing, fight that makes you say “Fuck it out already people, you know you want to.” Fear not. ‘Slam her against the wall, bite his stubborn neck’ fuck is closer than you think. But, not yet. Because we are talking about two equally stubborn and thick headed people here. Even their first interaction says a lot about what is about to come. Other than the Masens. *snickers*

~
"Excuse me," she said all…complete snob and a half like. Which was all I needed.

"You're excused," I told her, not really bothering to look at the person who was acting like I'd purposefully thrown her off her time table for the day.

I mean, if she was that worried, maybe she should've left a little earlier, right?

"You've got like…four carry-ons. And you're only allowed one."

"I don't really think that's anything for you to worry about, do you?" I asked her while I took my shoes off to put into the bins the airline had so graciously supplied.

She laughed. But not really, it was more like a, "I'm so not amused with your sarcasm", snort, actually.

"I think it absolutely is something for me to worry about, considering the security guards are no doubt going tocatch you, stop the line, take…for-ever to frisk you, since you look…" she eyed me up and down once or twice. "Completely cocaine dealer-ish…"
~

The winner of the first round is Bella. Or not. Soon enough, it comes clear that Cocaine Dealerish Edward is not the type that gives up easily.

~
Then I noticed the shoes…which explained why she was eye to eye with me.

I smiled taking her in and that just made her scowl a little more.

"Six inches?" I questioned her. "Compensating for something?"

She bent down to take them off and start her own bin, which was going to be completely bare except for those, a watch and her purse…which looked pretty goddamn expensive too.

I pulled my sunglasses down a tad, peeking over the brim of them, tilting my head a little, noticing the perfect shape of her…

Nice ass, I thought and I coulda sworn she lingered in that position a little too long for someone who was simply taking her fucking shoes off.

Not that I was complaining or anything.
~

Ah. Can you spell foreplay? Because it has just begun.

~
"Well?" she pushed me.

"Well…what?"

"Are you going to go check your bags?"

I laughed through my nose at her, thinking…she was kinda cute now that she was her normal smurf like size. I wondered if that would somehow make up for her pain in the ass attitude, in the bedroom.

"No."

She snorted again. "Jerk."

I laughed. She was kinda fun. In a very annoying kind of way.

"Brat."

She made a face at my retort. "Asshole."

I turned my attention back to my things. "Bitch."

"Dick."

I shot my eyebrows up a little and looked to her again. "Don't make me break out the big guns, now," I warned her, settling on the fact that no…the cuteness definitely wouldn't make up for her pain in the ass attitude, in the bedroom.
~

But turns out, it does. Their bedroom activities will make up more than her pain in the ass attitude. We discover it right along with Edward. Or Masen, like Meet the Masen readers like to call him. The Masens soon learn that their ‘not so cute’ cute-meet is not the end of their interaction. They have to work together for an undercover mission and act like… wait for it… husband and wife.

~
"Partnering me up with…Bellatrix over here is one thing…"

"Bella," she corrected me, almost ready to reach across the table and bitch slap me again.

"But married? Really?"

Married?

Really?
~

Oh yes, Edward, really. That’s the sweetest relief for both of them because they cannot get enough off of each other in an “I wanna stub you with my fork. Repeatedly.” way.

~
"Don't bullshit a bullshitter, Becka. You're not a hundred percent on board with this job anymore than I am."

She spun on me. "It's Bella. B. E. L. L. A." she told me and I resisted the urge to smirk at her. "Do you think you can try to remember that inside that pea sized brain of yours somehow? Edward?"

Twitch. 

"Marcus…You can't really expect me to work with this…" Bella Swan threw a hand toward me and I scowled.

"Well it hasn't exactly been a bottle of sunshine getting to know you, either, Barbie."
~

Thank God, they both are very professional and so damn good at what they are doing. No matter how much they kick, scream, fight, yell…like hell when they are alone, when they have to fake it, they fake it perfectly and become this completely in fakelove couple. They give one another cheekhurtingyly big smiles, while people are watching, and those very smiles turn into mean sneers the moment others get distracted. Still, the Masens, as their fake identities indicate, don’t miss any opportunity to step on each other’s toes.

~
"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!"
~

We watch them find many new ways to drive each other crazy, then go back to their professional selves, to the act of affectionate couple. Till… they realize… that they are not faking their affections anymore. And then from that point, it gets really complicated. Which, in the end, reaches to a perfect conclusion.

In this fandom, it is a well know fact what a great writer Jo is. She changes the plot with twists and turns. Adds her unique sense of humor. Makes her characters come alive with the amount of detail she adorns them with. If you want to read a great story with good humor and a sweet plot that will leave you speechless, then Meet the Masens.



We Come to Life Beneath the Stars by Lillybellis (repeat winner!!)
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6058476/1/
As Bella Swan starts over with hopes of finding her future, Edward Cullen is hanging on desperately to his past. She's treading water, and he's a corporate golden boy. They share an office, but few words...until one night changes everything. Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Nolebucgrl

When I was asked to do a review for this story, I was panicked because there’s no way that anything I say could possibly capture what Lillybellis does with her beautiful words. She’s a true talent and We Come to Life Beneath the Stars captivated me from the beginning. It starts with a simple family dinner, only there’s not much simple about it. Bella’s started a new job and her mother, Renee, isn’t happy about it. Her mother isn’t happy about much that Bella does, from the sound of it. And her brother, Emmett, and father, Charlie, are stuck being the peacemakers between the two.

Bella’s dissatisfied with more than just her job. Her longtime boyfriend, Jake, just doesn’t do it for her anymore either. She tries, one more time, to feel something, anything, with him but she can’t, so she ends that relationship as well. Her mother isn’t happy about that either, not surprisingly.

"Once he's away for a while, you'll begin to see things clearly," Mom says with determination.

My mother is under the impression that I'm walking through life in some kind of bubble that prevents me from seeing the way things really are. She thinks her harebrained daughter flits around the world in oblivion, while she sits in her kitchen in the middle of Nowhere, Washington, able to understand everything. In her mind, she is the seer of Truth, and it's her mission in life to protect me from myself.

"You'll wind up regretting this." Her voice is firm. "You don't know that now, but you will."


"I don't regret it," I say forcefully. "I regret not doing it sooner." I cringe at the way my voice sounds, how harsh my words are. But I don't take them back.
Mom breathes my name with a sigh. "You can't possibly think that you-"

"You're right, Mom." My voice is all agitation and tightly wound control. "You, who have never spent more than two days at a time with Jake, are right. I, his girlfriend of six years who lived with him, cleaned up after him, slept with him and loved him, I just don't know what in the hell I'm talking about."

I already feel tension winding its way up to my forehead, tying itself in a knot so tight that I'll need two cups of coffee and three Advil to get it to loosen.

All their conversations seem to take this tone and Bella can’t handle it anymore. She’s trying to live a new life and with a new job comes new people, including one Edward Cullen. Like the rest of Bella’s interactions we’ve seen in the early going, this one doesn’t seem to go very well.

I'm startled when someone clears their throat behind me, and when I turn around, Edward Cullen is staring down at me like he's just caught me shoplifting or committing some other kind of misdemeanor. His piercing green eyes stare coldly at my own, but I don't move a muscle. He wants me to shrink from him, but I refuse. Instead, I lift my shoulders and straighten my back, rising to whatever challenge he's about to throw at me.

"When you're finished decorating like this is your second home, alphabetize these by last name, and make me three copies," he says, before throwing a file folder onto my desk.

There is no please, and no thank you. He just barks orders at me like a commander, and when I don't respond, he turns and stalks across the floor toward his desk.

I mutter a soft, sarcastic 'please' under my breath, and when he pauses, I wonder if he's heard me. He doesn't turn around, and when he sits down at his desk, I see him look over once before staring at his computer screen like it holds the secret of life.

Their next few interactions don’t go so well either but Bella quickly sees that there’s more to Edward than meets the eye. He gets mysterious calls that make him drop everything and leave early. He has issues when told he has to buy a medium cup of coffee because they’re out of small. He has weird eating habits and keeps himself separate from everyone else. He runs hot and cold with her and she can’t figure him out, but she begins to very much want to.

Lillybellis slowly allows the two to come together, tentatively at first, balancing on the edge of friendship and possibly more, or less, because it’s precarious. Then she takes us deeper and deeper until they’re both letting one another in. I won’t spoil what mystery Edward is hiding for those that haven’t read this gem yet, but I will say that both have complex family relationships and can maybe understand one another better than anyone else could.


Reading these two go from cold to hot to that perfect room temperature that a happy, settled couple should reach is a pleasure from start to finish. There’s something about them that will touch your heart and make you feel warm and so pleased for them. This story has a wonderful big brother, Emmett, and a really great Dad torn between the two women in his life in Charlie as well. You’ll feel like you came to life beneath the stars along with Bella and Edward. Give it a try!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Fab Four Reviews: TLS Fics of the Week May 31 - June 6



Captive by totteacher
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6973645/1/Captive
Bella is kidnapped only to find herself in an unground Empire of Vampires. Her only chance to survive is to be chosen by the Dark Prince as his offerring, submiting herself to an unknown future against her will, the only other option is death. Twilight - Rated: M



Review by: Evilnat

The first word that comes to mind when considering a review of Captive by totteacher is ‘mine’.  I guarantee if you ask anyone who’s read it that’s what they will say.  From the first moment you meet Edward he becomes ‘Mineward’.

I did not move, but I allowed myself to take a good look at the man who held me so closely. The tip of his nose skimmed my jaw-line and I felt his embrace ease up slightly as his sounds quieted slowly until they stopped. His body relaxed slightly as I watched his raise his head so we were face to face. Then he finally opened his eyes allowing me to see the color of his eyes. They were green.


They gazed intently into my own dull brown ones that I was mesmerized. They were such a bright, verdant green that I felt as if I was lost in a cool spring forest. I had no words. And rather than try to force out anything that didn't come out of its own, I remained silent as I regarded him. I did not speak. But he did. He opened his mouth to utter one single word.

"Mine!"

Captive is an alternate universe vampire story in which Bella is a human who has been abducted for the purpose of becoming a potential mate for the half vampire Prince of Darkness, Edward.  She is forced to learn quickly about this new world and come to terms with what is expected of her as the mate of the Prince.

The vampire history created in Captive is unique and the history of half vampire Princes is interesting.  There are a few elements taken from cannon but embellished and twisted to suit this alternate universe.  The ceremony when Edward must choose a mate is a major scene in the beginning of the story.  It introduces you to the way Edward gives in to the vampire, or the beast as he calls it, and also how humans are treated in this world.  Another cannon idea is the blood drinking of the human mother as she carries the half vampire heir, however Captive Bella isn’t quite as accepting of it as Breaking Dawn Bella was.

Edward is not quite cannon, but certainly reminiscent of it.  His bond with Bella is strong and he will do anything to protect her.  The beast almost makes him come across as having a split personality. When it emerges it makes him feral, running on instinct only.  His point of view is great to read as it gives the insight into the mind of the beast.

Bella is adapting to her new life quite well considering how quick everything has happened.  She has had to deal with learning about something that doesn’t exist in the human world and mourn the loss of her old life.

There is a beautiful intimacy that is shown from both points of view as they both discover each other.  They are soul mates who had barely spoken to each other before they mated but their connection is powerful.

Other regular supporting cast have made appearances but as the story is so young they are yet to develop very far.

I was drawn to the story being a lover of the supernatural.  It is an enjoyable read and I can’t wait to see it progress.  There are many possibilities and also a lot that can be explored just between Edward and Bella.  They have spent quite a few chapters in their own little bubble and time has moved very slowly.

I highly recommend anyone who loves a possessive Edward to check Captive out.  You’ll be saying ‘mine’ in no time too.



The Roommate by MandyLeigh87
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6945446/1/The_Roommate
I needed a roommate. What I got was one heck of a problem. AH BxE Rated M
Twilight - Rated: M



Review by: MinaRivera


I gotta be honest here, the only reason why I’m reviewing this story, is because the fabulous girls in here needed someone to review this fic and I was the volunteer *cough* sucker *cough* *cough* that offered to do it. What I didn’t expect was to fall completely in love with this story, so much so, that now, I’m determined to cyber stalk MandyLeigh87 and begged or bride her for an update.

This story is quite simple.

We meet Bella, a nice girl, a really cool girl, who suddenly finds herself without a roommate. Just as her friend Angela was moving in, she announces she wasn’t going to be Bella’s roommate and, instead, she was moving in with her boyfriend, Ben.

THANKS A LOT, ANGELA!

So, in order to find a way to afford the rent, Angela finds Bella a suitable person to help out, it was the least she could do after leaving our dear Bella stranded all over the sudden, right? Bella doesn’t have a choice but to deal with this situation. Good thing our girl is determined to make the best of it, even though she wasn't looking forward to having an unknown new roommate.

"Bella!" Angela peeked her head out from the kitchen. "I'm so glad you made it home before I left. This is the last box."
A sound echoed from down the hallway, coming from the bedroom formerly known as Angela's. I peeked my head around the corner and saw a shadow move across the doorway.
"He's here already?" I whispered.
"Yeah. He didn't have much…Good thing the living and dining room furniture was mostly yours or you'd have an empty apartment." She leaned in close and smirked. "I'm not going to lie. He's really hot."
"Really?" I squeaked.
"I mean I know you're kinda-sorta dating Paul, but there will be a gorgeous guy sleeping not twenty feet from you. I say you should take advantage of it. I don't think he has a girlfriend."

*GASP* A hottie just down the hallway? We GOTTA meet this guy, right?

"Bella this is your new roommate." He was turned away from me, shrugging out of his leather jacket. He set it on the bed and ran his fingers through his messy bronze hair and turned towards me. As soon as I saw his face, I inhaled a sharp breath and started choking on my sucker.
I doubled over and started hacking until it popped out onto the floor and rolled towards his feet. "Shit!" I whispered, not wanting to look him in the eye. This is not happening Bella. You're hallucinating. The only reason you see his face right now is because you were just thinking about him.
"I'd know that gag reflex anywhere," he teased.
My fists clenched at my sides as I straightened back up. "Fuck," I mumbled. I wasn't hallucinating. He was here. Right in front of me. The only boy I'd ever loved and the one I never wanted to see again.
"This is…" Angela started.
"Edward fucking Cullen what are you doing in my apartment?" I yelled. Angela looked confused as her eyes darted between the two of us.

WHAT? THEY KNOW EACH OTHER? OH. EM GEE!

"Bella Swan." A strange emotion flickered in his eyes for the slightest moment before he relaxed again. "I think you mean our apartment sweetheart. And I'm unpacking." He chewed idly on a coffee straw and smirked.
"I take it you two know each other?" Angela asked, gulping hard.
"You cannot stay here," I said, completely ignoring her. "I've been dreaming about keying your car since we graduated high school, I cannot live in the same apartment with you."
"Well tough titties. I'm staying." He shrugged and started unpacking his boxes.

Yep, ladies, his holy fuckhotness is an asshole, and Bella has no choice but to live with said asshole. Now, I know what you are thinking… HOT ANGRY SEX!
NOT!

At least not yet… *smirks*

Bella and Edward have a past, and it seems it’s not pretty at all…

I slipped silently from my bed and tiptoed over to my closet. I reached up and pulled out a small box from the top shelf. I don't know why I still kept it after all these years, but I couldn't bring myself to throw everything away. He was such a big part of me and even though I wanted to smother him in his sleep at the moment, I couldn't deny that.
I sat down on the floor and pulled the box onto my lap. I opened it with shaky fingers and was met with Edward's smiling face. It was our picture from senior prom, the week before everything went to hell. We looked happy, in love. I didn't understand how something like that could end up so wrong. Even after all this time, I couldn't believe he never told people the real reason we broke up. He didn't owe me that, not after everything that happened. Looking back on it, it was the one redeeming quality he had through our breakup. He called me names, threw glares my way, but he never said a word about it, not even to his brother. I would have known if he did. A lot of things would have been different.
I tucked the box back away in my closet and returned to bed. "Nine months," I whispered. Roughly two hundred and eighty days. It'd taken the man two seconds to break my heart all over again; I couldn't imagine what would happen in nine months.

Welcome to The Roommate.

This story has twists and turns, and just in the first three chapters I wanted to kick Edward on the nuts for behaving like insensitive asshole, and also chock Angela for leaving poor Bella with no choice but to suck it up, and live with her ex for at least nine months until the lease is up. But, you will discover not everything is what it seems, and is one of the reasons why I find myself completely hooked on this story.

Is this story going to have a HEA? Yes, MandyLeigh87 promises so. This story is very light compared to others she've done, she is just trying to have a lot of fun with it, so hopefully you'll just take it for what it is and have fun with it too. Just to forewarn, these characters were and can be immature at times so don't expect a lot of deep moments. Hopefully you'll get a laugh or a smile out of most of this story.

What happened between Bella and Edward? And when do we find out?

That's for MandyLeigh87 to know and for us to dot dot dot... She welcome theories, so make sure your review has one in there.

So go ahead, sit back, grab a beer and read The Roommate. You won’t regret it. I promise.



Cullen, Unscripted by FictionFreak95 (FL95)
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5901030/22/Cullen_Unscripted
When Edward Cullen scores an entry level internship as a writer for his distant Uncle's TV Station immediately following College, his life takes some crazy turns as he makes new friends and finds love. AH, BxE, Rated L for Lemons, Laughing and Language.



Review by: MzB

So there really aren't words to describe any of Jo aka FictionFreak aka FL95's fics, but here is my attempt...
While the summary does give you some insider tips… there is definitely not enough warning for this story. There should be a huge flashing neon sign saying- Warning: Snorting and Peeing Ahead!(Of course this should be said in an Irish, or is that Scottish, accent.)
As we all should know by now, Jo is not only a plot genius but she should be a stand up comedian. Some of the things she writes should be etched on a plaque and hung on the Best Jokes of All Time wall.
Not to mention the fact that with Cullen, Unscripted she finally had more of a normal guy (not that any Edward is ever ‘normal’).
You first meet Edward Cu… Masen (aka Kuhmasen), as a college kid who has no family until his estranged uncle shows up offering him a job. Being the upstanding guy that he is, Edward decides to climb the ladder without a leg up from his uncle. He ends up with no where to live, needing income from another source and not telling anyone that he is Carlisle Cullen’s nephew. He meets Emmett, crashes on his couch and becomes an integral part of his group of friends. He gets a job which involves costumes, singing and serving. Need I say more?
Everything is going okay for Edward, until he decides to crush on the leading lady, Isabella Marie Swan.
Enter the antagonist, James Halloway, who is the epitome of douche and currently dating Edward’s new crush.

"You tryin' to say something? Intern?" he asked me, taking a step or two backwards so he was face to face with me again.
Again, with that intern thing…I still wasn't getting it. And was still, quite annoyed with it.
I looked up and made eye contact with him. "That red head that was camping out in the back of said limo might wanna tell you something, but me? Nah, I'm just trying to bond with my producer."
I smiled.
Wait for it.
He stumbled. I felt it, saw it, basked it in.
His face fell a tad and there was a moment where I could hear the wheels turning inside his head.
BAM! 
"You think you're smart, intern?"
And then, he crumpled my basking moment like a piece of parchment that had sat out in the sun too long…like a withering rose pedal that had been touched one too many times.
"Or should I call you, Cullen?"
Say whaaaaaat? 
"Ummmm."
Yeah, insert holy mother fucking Christ on a goddamn sail boat to China, shit for brains moment.
Right here.
"What?"

And all of a sudden you’re on the edge of your seat; wondering if Edward is going to lose his new group of friends and the possible love of his life.
And to keep you at the edge of your seat Jo decides to throw a little of this at you…

I got up to go again, but she grabbed my hand and I stopped, looking down at her. She met my eyes and my stomach literally dropped at what I saw in them.
Serious up.
Unadulterated.
X-rated.
Lust.
Lordy. Mighty. 
"I don't...want you...to go, Edward," she practically whispered it. If I hadn't been listening so intently, I probably wouldn't have heard her.
I swallowed.
"You don't."
"No."
She stood up and started slowly unbuttoning my shirt for me.
"What um...do you want, then, Bella?"
She looked me in the eyes and raised a single eyebrow before she said with perfect quandariless clarity, "You."

But, of course, because Emmett is always the best character (oh wait I’m not supposed to put my opinion in here?) he makes it easier on Edward, by helping him through the traumatic experience of telling all the people he cares about that he is a liar.

"Got something to tell us, Edward?" Emmett asked with folded arms and a scowl the size of fucking Texas creased along his forehead.
"Uh…"
Shit, I was kinda sorta re-thinking this whole, fessing up to everyone thing when I noticed Rose's arched eyebrow and Alice's pursed lips.
Jasper however, simply looked a little bored.
I couldn't help but wonder why they'd all be pissed already, unless…James had set me up and only TOLD me he was telling Bella to fuck me up, all the while planning to tell THESE GUYS behind my back!
Dickless, spineless, cowardly…fucking…asshole! 
I set my stuff down and eyed Emmett, 'cause let's face it, he was the biggest and I'd have to be quick on my feet to run away from him once this was out.
"Yeah…um…" I cleared my throat and he narrowed his eyes at me.
"So," I laughed, like it was a joke. "It's kinda funny actually…completely slipped my mind to tell you guys this…"
"What is it, Edward?" Rose asked coldly.
They were all staring at me and the weight of the lie was hurting my chest so I just let out a sigh and told them.
Emmett, mostly, but all of them, none the less.
Was I shaking?
I rubbed the back of my neck as I started. "It's Carlisle, ya see, he's…"
"Oh my god," Alice said, her hand flying to her chest. I almost thought she was being facetious, but then figured…nah.
"Is he okay?" she finished after catching her breath.
"No, no…I mean, yeah, he's fine, he's just…"
"Spit it out, Masen," Emmett spat, and I could tell, he already knew, he was just waiting for me to say it.
"Yeah, uhmmmm…that's not my last name, actually."
"Uh Huh."
Here we go. 
"It's…sort of…Cullen." I said the name quietly and I actually closed my eyes for a minute after I said it, waiting for the onslaught. Or, Emmett's fist. One of those.

So as you can see, Kuhmasen is one of the nice guys and as disclaimed by Jo herself, ‘He’s definitely not The Dick.’ If you’re ready for laughs, funny POVs and a little tingly (because we all know that Jo can write the lemons) then go read Cullen, Unscripted.





In Your World by solosintwilight
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6811278/1/In_Your_World
Bella is running from her life when it takes an unexpected detour, To Amish Country in rural Iowa where she finds sanctuary with a caring family. And meets a man who draws her into his world. Welcome to the world of Amishward. Twilight - Rated: M



Review by: Monica Manunta aka LaMomo
The buzz has been going around the fandom for months now.
Since Annie Leibowitz and an obscure fashion editor at Vanity Fair decided to drop a black wide-brimmed hat on Rob's head, we've all been bitten by the AmishWard bug. The setting, the pics, the hat, the face, the white shirt, did I mention the hat? Everything contributed to creating the look that was instantly dubbed "AmishWard", and in a lot of crazy corners of the fandom, a rumour (or a crazy idea) bounced from inbox to inbox - what if someone really wrote an AmishWard? What would he look like? How Amish would he be? How "Ward" would he be?

Our prayers have been answered, because solosintwilight has generously put her mind to the task and is regaling us with one of the most peculiar stories around lately - "In Your World".
These momentous questions are being addressed by her story in an admirable way and, with the recent ending of a couple of the hottest WIPs around, her regular weekly postings have done a lot towards abating my abandonment issues. AmishWard is the answer.
How so? A few key elements, without giving too much away.

The story starts with Bella running away from home, from canon, run-down, rainy, drab and reclusive Forks. So far, no news. The news is that she is running away from an abusive relationship with Jake - a relationship that Charlie is fully supportive of, up to the point that he condones Jake's behaviour. Bella has no other option than run the hell out of Dodge (aka, Forks).
But Greyhound is not a silver Volvo, nor a portkey, nor the USS Enterprise, nor the Black Death, and the coach breaks down halfway in the middle of nowhere. Unhappy camper Bella decides to snack on some corn cakes that happen to change her life, because she crosses path with a distinguished Amish named Carlisle Cullen and hides in his buggy as soon as she hears Jake thundering her name though said middle of nowhere.
Once he sees her frantic with fear, Carlisle agrees to harbour her and brings her home, where she finds a very Amish and very motherly Esme, along with her two daughers Alice and Rosalie. She hasn't been in the house for an afternoon, when she literally crashes into Edward. And the image of this gorgeous, but serious and tormented boy haunts her.
Edward is alone in the world, having lost his whole family to illness not a year prior to the start of this story. He was destined for the church, but life had other plans. His encounter with Bella upsets his little world, as much as her flight into the quiet, simple Amish way of life saves her from her worldly, but fear-ridden ordinary life.
They both have momentous choices before them - and such choices are forced on them as a misunderstanding sets them apart. While Edward remains momentarily stuck in his convictions and his conflicts, Bella resorts to her solution of choice - she runs away again. And her saviour this time is not Carlisle....
This will be their turning point, the fork in the road where they must choose their future path in life - where does it lead? Bella will choose the simple, generous, loving way of life of the Amish, with a black cloud of disapproval and suspicion looming over her, and with a lingering fear that Jake might come back for her. Edward will choose life - does this life lead him to Bella?
Apparently yes. But there are bumps in the road. Hold on to the buggy.

Solosintwilight is painting a great canvas here - with credible, consistent backstories for all characters, with careful and realistic research, beautiful writing, and a completely adorable Bella and Edward. Bella is worldly, but innocent at the same time. Edward is intense and brooding. Canon Edward? Check. He is also conflicted. And poetic - as in, he writes poetry. While I hand over the smelling salts, do yourself a favour, and click on that link..

PS: Outtakes are also posting from alternative POV's. This week's treat is a Carlisle POV. Very...scientifically enlightening. But read the latest chapter first. You won't regret it.
Photobucket