TLS Fics of the Week 7/9 - 7/15/2012: The Fab Five Features are up!

My Biggest Mistake, My Greatest Salvation by LyricalKris

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7942495/1/My_Biggest_Mistake_My_Greatest_Salvation

Edward has spent all of his thirty-two years trying to be the man his grandfather raised him to be. When he wakes up married to a young, scared, pregnant stranger, this is one mistake he won't leave in Vegas.

Reviewed by: Twilover 76

Whenever LyricalKris puts out a new story, I sit up and take notice.  She has authored some of my favorites including The Butterfly Effect, A Certain Point of View, and Parenthetical Love.  Her newest fic, My Biggest Mistake, My Greatest Salvation has quickly become one of my must-reads as soon as it updates. 

Edward is an upstanding, successful, but very lonely businessman who happened across a crying, hopeless girl while he was in Vegas for a meeting.  After convincing her to let him treat her to dinner, he learned part of the reason for her grief was that she was pregnant. 

He woke up the next morning hungover and no longer lonely.  In fact, he woke up married.  Sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas.

"We're married."

Edward blinked, beginning to wonder if he'd done some hardcore drug the night before and he just didn't remember. "Can you... say that again?" His voice was raw with sleep and a mother of a hangover.

Wordlessly, Bella lifted her left hand. Sure enough, there was a cheesy looking gold band on her ring finger. Bewildered, Edward mimicked her movement and found a matching band on his finger. "Huh," he chuffed, staring at the thing dumbly.

As he looked up, the girl lowered her head to her knees, her breath hitching in that way that told him she was about to start crying again. "Yeah. I'd cry if I woke up married to me, too," he thought out loud. Apparently, his filter was hiding from the throb, throb, throbbing of his head.

"It's not that," she said, raising her head. "I'm so, so sorry. This is all my fault."

Edward decided that the first order of business, before he could consider this whole Holy Matrimony thing, was to figure out if he could sit up. He tried. The room only spun lackadaisically. "It takes two to tango," he pointed out almost conversationally, digging his fists into his eyes. A thought occurred to him and he glanced at the side of the bed he wasn't occupying. It was rumpled. "Did we?" he asked, vaguely horrified. "Tango, I mean..."

"Oh! Oh, no. No. You..." She flushed furiously, blowing out a breath in a huff before she tried again. "Last night, you held me," she admitted shyly. "It was so sweet." Her small smile fell almost as soon as it appeared. "Actually, you've just been so nice to me." She took a shuddering breath. "And I took advantage of that real quick, didn't I..."

"Maybe it would be best if you filled in the blanks," Edward suggested mildly. "I remember you said you were pregnant."

She bit her lip and nodded. "That's... I... Yes." She sniffled. "I told you my sob story." Her smile was wane but seemed genuine. "And then, you offered to marry me, and even though I knew you were drunk... I knew better, I still said yes."

It’s easy to be sympathetic for both Edward and Bella in this story.  Edward was raised by his rigid, closed-minded grandfather, often deprived of the warmth and affection his brothers received from his real parents.  Bella is on the run from her possessive, controlling, and abusive ex, who is also the father of her unborn child.  While they each have doubts about their spontaneous and impulsive marriage, they decide to stick it out.  Edward gains a companion and Bella gains a protector. 

"I half expected to find you'd run off," Edward said softly, closing the door and walking slowly to the bed. He sat down, his eyes steady on her.

"I thought about it," she admitted.

"What else did you think about?" he asked, his voice unassuming.

"Well," she hedged. This was such an awkward conversation. "I was just curious. If you're in a suite, you obviously don't live here, right?"

He blinked at her and then laughed. "Of course. No, I don't live here. I live in Chicago."

Bella blew out a long breath, thinking about that. It had occurred to her that if he was just going to flit her away to a town as small as Forks, she might never get on her feet. She needed resources - job opportunities, that kind of thing.

Her heart started to race. She felt inexplicably shy about what she was about to say. "In that case, I was thinking that, unless you've reconsidered, I would like to take you up on your offer. But I want to pay you back," she said this last sentence quickly, tripping over her words. "I'll find a way to pay you back for all of it. Everything."

He raised an eyebrow, looking as though he was about to dismiss the need to repay him, but he must have seen something in her face and thought better of it. "If you prefer," he said easily.

Bella stared at him, feeling strangely calm about having just agreed to follow a near complete stranger back home. "You're sure this is okay?" she asked, wondering if she was asking him or herself.

"Mmhmm," he hummed affirmatively. The answer seemed oddly evasive, but his smile a moment later was genuine. "Good then. That's settled."

Edward even convinces Bella it would be best to tell everyone that he is the father of her child.  Their unexpected union, and the news that Edward is going to be a “father”, does not go down easily with Edward’s family.  Despite the hardships, Edward and Bella muddle their way through the unconventional relationship they’ve started.  It’s a fun ride to read how these two learn from and support each other…and how they will hopefully grow to love each other.  If you haven’t begun this work in progress, go start reading it now!

Drumsticks and Penalty Kicks by Les16

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8158357/1/Drumsticks_and_Penalty_Kicks

He still watches her. She still plays the drums. They just do it together. Drummer Girl and Creeper learn to love, trust, and grow together. Sequel/Continuation to "Watching Her". AH.

Wisp by Cris

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8051177/1/Wisp

Edward wins more than he bargained for at what was supposed to be a friendly poker game. AH. Ysar made me my banner!

Accidentally in Love by Missus T

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7778961/1/Accidentally_in_Love

A personal ad for a fake fiancée leads to something they never expected. Two lonely souls discover that faking it might be the best thing that ever happened to them. ExB AH 

Catch My Breath by Tanglingshadows

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8227043/1/Catch_My_Breath

Once upon a time, a quirky woman barreled into a soft-spoken man's life and turned it upside down. Not that he complained about it...

TLS Fics of the Week 3/25 - 3/31/2012

Terms & Conditions Apply by TheSaintsMistress
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6916502/1/Terms_and_Conditions_Apply

There's only one person on this earth that Edward Cullen hates, and that's his boss...Bella Swan. She's cold. She's ruthless and incapable of human emotion, and to Edward's greatest frustration, the hottest woman walking the face of the planet. Twilight - Rated: M

Review by: AnnaLund http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2307684/AnnaLund

It started (for me) with a tweet from @katinki01 about a hot hot hot hot hot lemon, telling us all to go read it, and LEARN to write lemons like that one.

Well I did. I often follow good advice. At least when it tells me to go read stuff. Especially lemons. Yeah, sue me. Well, this one truly was. Hot, I mean. Sizzling, steaming, and yet, still both elegant and sensual. Blew my mind, it did. Right out the window. (The lemon is in Chapter 24 if you are into in cutting corners.)

But then—after fanning myself thoroughly—I realized that the reason I loved it was that the writing was so good. Like, all the way through. This author could really paint a vivid image. So then I just had to go back and start from the beginning, from chapter 1.

”What?” you all scream, ”having already read the lemon?”

Hell, yeah.

Because it IS that good. The writing. The storyline. The whole thing. The masterfully done lemon is just the icing on the cake. The proverbial cherry.

  So, when I got back to the lemon again, (still in Chapter 24, in case you missed my mentioning the fact above) it was just WOW, HOLY, HOT, HOT, OUCH, WOW, WOW, WOW. Because it was suddenly in context, and TheSaintsMistress had worked up such UST that the whole story exploded around me. Of course, I cannot guarantee it, but you are more than likely to go up in flames right with it, too.

Let's face it, there is just NOTHING lamer in the world than a lame lemon. I call them Lamons, and fanfiction stories are full of them.

THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE. THIS GOES HOT, AND THEN IT GOES HOTTER. THEN IT GOES NUCLEAR MELTDOWN.

To give you a sense of how the lemon gets underway, here's an excerpt:

“Signs of dehydration:

Thirst

Flushed skin

Dry mouth

Chills

Head rushes

1. Thirst

You know that feeling when you've had a wild night of partying and consuming copious amounts of alcohol? When you wake up from dreaming about drinking gallons of water? You know, that intense need to thrust your mouth beneath a tap and just drink and drink until your stomach bursts or the desperation subsides.

Well, that's what it feels like being kissed by Edward Cullen.

I feel like I've reached an oasis in a desert and just want to suck and lick and consume each drop of wet relief. The craving is so intense that I literally mold my mouth to the source and claim.”

After Thirst, she moves along, through Flushed skin… Dry mouth… Chills… and so on, until the end. Now, sit back a second, and taste those words in your own mouth. I dare you. Flushed skin. Chills. Head rushes.

Yeah.

It is a brilliantly executed lemon, in a brilliantly written fic. You can actually grow as a writer when you read and analyze what she is doing with her words, how she strings them together, one after the other. Or, you can have a lot of fun just speeding through it as a reader. Whichever way you decide to devour this story, it is made of win. Pure win. To think that she is not a native speaker of English just makes it even more brilliant.

Okay, well, now—I've gone on and on about the lemon, what about the story itself, what is it about? Let's see, the storyline says:

“There's only one person on this earth that Edward Cullen hates, and that's his boss... Bella Swan. She's cold. She's ruthless and incapable of human emotion, and to Edward's greatest frustration, the hottest woman walking the face of the planet.”

So, Edward works for Bella—who is an editor at a big publishing house. She is having her parents come visit her, and she has been deceiving them for a long time, telling them she is in a long-term relationship. She needs a stand-in. Pronto.

"You, Mr. Cullen," she practically growls. "I need you to be my boyfriend." Her knuckles turn white as she massages the taut skin stretching over her forehead in frustration.

"Excuse me?" I'm sure that she's finally going off the deep end. Did my boss, the bitch I could hardly stand to face, just ask me to be her…boyfriend?

"I need you to pretend." She pauses for emphasis. "To be my boyfriend, Mr. Cullen. Starting this Monday."

This is of course where the Terms & Conditions Apply… After which hilarity, three variations of crazy and sadness ensue, always balancing on the right side of truly believable, credible, touching and real.

TheSaintsMistress also manages to master the male voice (the fic is written in switching BPOV to EPOV), but without ever falling into ridiculous descriptions of colors like “mauve”, or plastering the fic with descriptions of fashionable clothes and such nonsence. To Edward Cullen, quite the man, blue is simply blue. Remember our good old Rob’s answer when asked the color of his burgundy suit? “Eeeeh… Red…?” There you go. That’s a male voice. Red. Brilliant.

Now, instead of giving you line after line from the fic itself and risk destroying your reading experience—because I want YOU to read it and feel all the goodness first-hand and on your own—I am going to go with a different approach here.

  I’m handing you excerpts from actual reviews on the 32 chapters and an Epi. Yeah, TheSaintsMistress uploaded the last chapter and the Epi at the same time as I was writing this very review. How very thoughtful of her.

I’ve tried hard to just use the excerpts that won’t spoil your fun, so you can safely read on. No spoilers here, just a way to show you how this story can reach your mind.

  Without further ado, some lines to amuse you and possibly make you want to read the story that has inspired so many of us:

This lemon is seriously the best I've ever read. I think perhaps it needs a warning sign at the beginning. Or free cigarettes. Or something.

Or:

You just keep giving, one emotion after the other. I love it. just love it. 

Or:

Just when I think you can't do it better, you go and just Do It.

Or:

I love love loved it. oh man, you write the socks off of me. this edward is to die for. Gah

Or:

I just love how tight they have become, how close everything feels. beautiful. sexy. hot. sweet. supportive. and hot. yeah. 

Or:

I love how your Bella takes charge of herself, not just being made come by super-E... No, no, she is taking matters into her own hands, and rocks the socks off him.

Or:

Well done. Now, is there more of this coming? Pun intended.

Or:

Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh. oh. boy. oh help.

Yeah, I believe that’s enough. I think you get the idea.

Truly, TheSaintsMistress possesses amazing skills when it comes to describing a scene so vividly it comes alive in front of you; however, I give her extra brownie-points for her especially-super-special-awesomesauce-skillz for the lemony bits. Oh, yes. It is never crass or icky, it is always sexy as fuck and sensual to the umpteenth power.

I rest my case. Go read it. Now.

I salute you, oh Mistress of the Lemon. Rock my world.

Come again, please?

AnnaLund 

Unrequited by Perry Maxwell
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7446868/1/Unrequited
Edward left Bella almost a year ago, upending her whole world. What happens when Bella receives a phone call that just might shatter it? "Wait, Alice…Edward is dying?" I choked out. Twilight - Rated: M

Review by: Twilover76

All stories we read have authors who have poured parts of themselves into them…whether it be time, creativity, emotions, or all of the above.  And then there are the stories based on actual events in the author’s life.  Unrequited by Perry Maxwell is a true testament of a writer giving blood, sweat, and tears in sharing their story.

I was fortunate enough to stumble upon meeting Perry in a random WC, and we became fast friends.  It’s hard not to love her as soon as you meet her.  Aside from her being one of the nicest and most supportive authors around, she’s also uber-talented with her words.  It took me about two seconds of reading her not-yet-posted story before I was jumping at the opportunity to be a part of Team Unrequited.

From the prologue, your heart wants to shatter as Bella’s nightmare begins:

"No Bella. This is not my home. This is where I live, but this is not my home. I'm not sure it has ever been my home." He responded with a resigned sigh. I couldn't tell if he was mad or frustrated.


His words felt heavy and obstructive, and my chest responded to their weight accordingly.
Breathing in deeply and finding the courage to speak, I tried to reason with him, convince him that we could move to Dallas together and fix whatever was broken, not that I knew what that was. Didn't he know that my home was wherever he was?


"Okay. If you wanted to go back to Dallas, and you were uncomfortable here, why didn't you just tell me? I can work from anywhere, and we can start looking for houses. I know your parents are there, and so is your brother, and - "


"Bella…stop. I said I'm leaving...not we're leaving." He ran his hand over his face and then returned my stare. His eyes bore into mine as if searching or maybe pleading – no, begging me to understand what he meant without making him say it.


I fell silent as I let the gravity of his words sink in. My lips started to quiver, and my eyes began to water. As tears fell, my trembling lips asked the dreaded question even though the answer could destroy me.


"Edward, don't you want to be with me anymore?" I couldn't even look at him when I asked it. Instead, I stared at my hands in my lap and watched as a single tear turned into a staccato of salty droplets.


He sighed and shifted on the couch, turning to sit side by side with me, his shoulder brushing against mine. Normally, I'd find his touch, his presence reassuring…but not now.


"The truth is, Bella, I simply don't love you as a husband loves a wife," he explained.


Shocked, I turned my head to look at him; he showed no signs of emotion.


No remorse. No regret. No tears.


No reaction to my state of despair.


The Edward I knew would have comforted me; it would have torn him apart to watch me cry. I was sitting next to a complete stranger and looking into the eyes of a man I did not know.


Perry has you gripped from the start, wondering what it was that changed Edward.  How could the perfect husband so quickly turn into a monster?  How does Bella deal with this level of betrayal and grief?

Chapter one picks up about a year after the prologue…a year after Bella’s heart was crushed and left abandoned by her husband for reasons unknown to her.

"Wait, Alice…Edward is dying?" I choked out.


"Bella? Oh my God. I didn't realize that asshole finally gave you the phone. I'm so sorry you had to hear that," she said in one breath.


"Alice, what's wrong with Edward?"


"Bella, he's in the hospital. Look, there's so much I need to say to you…so much you need to see. Can you come out here?"


"Alice…I…I…"


"Bella, he needs you. I don't know…we don't know how much time he has left. Please say you'll come," she begged me.


I was straining to keep grip on my emotions but was losing control fast. Time seemed to slow down, but nothing could slow the ache in my chest or the tears that inevitably fell. I couldn't form a coherent thought much less a sentence, and I faintly heard Alice repeatedly calling my name. Jamie came to wrap his arms around me and took the phone from my hands as I collapsed to my knees.


"She'll have to call you back, Alice. Listen, she can't give you an answer right now, okay? I'll have her call you when she is ready. Bye, Alice," he said, hanging up and turning his complete attention to me.


"Bella, talk to me."


I turned my watery eyes to him and whispered, "The only man I've ever loved is dying; I have to go be with him."


Bella does go to her ex-husband and not only has to face the man who left her, but also his family.  She felt just as rejected by them as she did Edward.

We made it to the hospital in record time, which really wasn't a difficult feat at the ungodly hour of five in the morning.


Carlisle and Esme were already in the waiting area when we arrived. Standing to meet us, Esme opened her arms to me as if asking for a hug. "May I?"


"Of course, Esme. Sorry we had to see each other again under these circumstances."


She shrugged, placed her hands on my shoulders, and pulled away to look me over like a concerned mother. "While it isn't ideal, I still get to see you. So I'll take it. I still claim you as mine, you know."


I didn't want to cry, but Edward's mother's words cut right through me. I missed her. I missed all of them. Yet, no one called me, except Alice. I was hurt; I felt my annoyance and indignation begin to bubble inside me. If I was still hers, why hadn't she or any of them reached out to me? I had assumed that they just took Edward's side in the divorce. Not that there was really a side to take. He wanted out, and I let him go.


What else do you do when someone says they don't want you anymore?


As you read through the chapters of Unrequited, Perry has masterfully blended present-day circumstances with insightful flashbacks.  I have never read a story that so seamlessly intertwined the two throughout.  With Bella’s memories of earlier times, Perry shows the readers the important background information rather than tells them.

It is hard not to hate Edward, and his family by extension, for the trauma Bella has gone through and continues to go through when thrown back into their world.  However, as time passes, Bella learns more about the reasons behind Edward’s decision to leave.  I won’t give too much away here, but you slowly start to understand and sympathize somewhat for both sides.  Even if you want to strangle Edward’s pretty neck more than a few times.

With only a couple chapters left to post in Unrequited, run and read this amazing story by Perry Maxwell.  It will make you cry, laugh, and engage with the characters like few other great stories out there.

Last Call by Robsmyyummy Cabanaboy
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7596421/1/Last_Call
The past she's struggling to remember is the time he'd rather forget... Can they move beyond the scars and forge a new beginning together or have they missed their Last Call? AH, Rated M for language & eventual lemons. Twilight - Rated: M

Review by: Southern Fanfiction Review
Bella King suffers from retrograde amnesia which resulted from a car accident on her wedding night. The accident took the lives of her new husband and her parents. She's been left with no memories of her husband and only remembers her parents from years ago. She has no memory of her own life during the years leading up to the crash and is desperate to discover who she was.

While visiting a bar called Last Call, Bella and her friend Rosalie run into a handsome bartender.  He knows Bella’s drink of choice before she orders it.  He obviously knows Bella, but when she goes to the Lady’s Room and Rosalie asks him about it, this is his response:

"Who? Isabella? Hell no! I have a pretty liberal checklist on who I spend time with but kindness to other human beings falls into those standards. I wouldn't have dated your friend for all the money in the world. She was a raging, selfish bitch from the instant I met her until the blessed moment I didn't have to see her face anymore. Does that answer your question?  I'm your bartender here and will happily take care of your drink orders for the night. But honestly, there's not one shred of decency in your little friend back there. At least there wasn't when I knew her. And I really don't care to revisit those days, ok? Life's too short, you know? My name is Edward. Let me know if I can get you anything else."


Something tells me Edward is NOT interested in Bella.

Last Call is set on the Southern New Jersey Shore.  I asked Yummy (the author) where she came up with the idea for the story.  She said she grew up on the South Shore of New Jersey and there is actually a bar called Surf City Pub that reminds her of Last Call.   She even told me that a guy she had a crush on in High School has worked that bar and gave her free drinks…I wonder if he looked like Edward…

After talking with Yummy, I also learned that she is a Speech Pathologist, so she works with people who have retrograde amnesia just like Bella.  It’s facts like this that make Last Call not only believable, but very enjoyable to read.   Yummy gives you facts that are true, but also, very rarely answers all your questions.  The UST at this point in the story is killing most of her readers!!   But OH What a Way to Go!!!

I wanted to see what some of her readers were saying about Last Call.  This is what I found out:

ilive2read: ooohhh this is going to be a mystery for a while isn't it? going to keep me coming back trying to figure everything out lol. Looking forward to the next piece of the puzzle.

Kitty Vuitton: The suspense is killing me FYI. I want to see the fireworks and entertainment from when Edward and Bella finally meet again and he realizes she's completely different lol! Thanks for the early update love

FFLoverLaura: dun dun dun! holy crap so so good! effin love this babe! you knocked it outta the park. this chapter was awesome. gah! cannot wait for more! :)

There are lots of twists and turns in Last Call.  Bella ends up dating James (Edward’s Brother), Edward is engaged to be married to Tori.  And, oh, did I mention:  Edward Hates Bella?  Looking at all this, I don’t know how in the world the story is marked E/B.  But I promise the two love birds will eventually get together. 

Last Call’s beta is Monica Manunta or LaMomo.  Yummy told me that she absolutely could not write the story without Monica and that she trust her beta to keep her on track.  She said that if she ever felt like she couldn’t finish Last Call, she knew Monica could be there to make sure she stuck with it.  I appreciate relationships like this one in the fandom.  I think it’s a good thing that we learn we can’t always do it ourselves.

If you are looking for a fun read that keeps you on your toes, you can look no further than Last Call.  It is suspenseful, ustful, and a lot of fun to read!  We are also promised smokin’ hot lemons (and her readers plan to hold her to that).  Robsmyyummy Cabanaboy updates weekly on Wednesdays and she even gives us a teaser every Sunday.

We would love to have you join us Call Girls at The Cabanaboy’s Playground on Facebook.  That’s where teasers are posted and there is lots of RobPorn and conversation surrounding the story Last Call.  Thank you for taking the time to read my review!  I hope you will give Last Call a read, you will be glad you did!

Ride by Kris Salvador
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6253744/1/Ride
Bella wanted to fulfill a fantasy - to be groped inside a crowded train. She gets her wish and more, when a sex-starved ex-convict decides she's fair game. ALLHUMAN. Mature but with plot.
Twilight - Rated: M

Review by: Crooked Smile http://www.fanfiction.net/~crookedsmile101

This ride is hot. Fast and hard.

A girl.

Curious.

Let’s see if I can.

A man.

Gracious.

Let’s make sure you fucking can. And again and again and again.

"…without warning, he plunged his hand into my skirt and my leggings under it, going straight for my pussy. He started finger-fucking me in earnest, just in and out, in and out, fast and hard. His hand rubbed my clit hard, while it pistoned in and out of my tight, wet, hot pussy and it was insane, so fucking insane. Pleasure, hot and cold, raced all over my body. I didn't know where to concentrate, whether on his long finger fucking me, his breaths, ragged and crazy in my ear or the fact that I'm about to cum in a train full of people. I pressed my ass against his hard cock, grinding it. He pushed against me and I knew he must be dying to ram it inside me…"

Edward is just out of prison.

"Spread 'em, sweetheart."

Bella is a collage student.

"Don't stop. Don't stop. Don't fucking stop. Don't stop fucking."

Their union is hot, fast, hard.

"FUCK! Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

And impossible.

I walked a little faster, not looking back. Whoever it was better not make the mistake of harassing the chief of police's daughter. Everybody knew who I was and I wasn't exactly defenseless. Fuck you, fucker. “What do you want?”

Edward has secrest. Bella has a weakness. Starting with the words;

"Wanna go for a ride?"

"Hold on tight."

Oh God, oh God, oh God!

She tries to stay away.

But he is hard to deny, easy to comply.

And oh so very polite.

"Please, Isabella. Let me fuck you."

And she lets him in. And out. In and out. In and out. In and out.

"Breathe...," he gritted out. "Breathe, dammit."

"No, no more..." The pressure was rising again with him inside me and if I came one more time, I was certain I'd break.

"Just one more, baby, one more." Her skin glowed from exertion, her hair a wild cloud on her head. Gorgeous, just fucking gorgeous.

"One more...just one more..." Too much...oh, God. Edward! Oh God, oh God, oh God.


Life puts them on a train and sends them on a ride. A ride that is fast and hot and hard. A ride that you’ll love and hate with equal passion. Why don’t I ever find that kind of train?


Kris Salvador doesn’t put unnecessary words in her Ride. A story with a perfect balance of plot and smut. The best smut! We all were still screaming for more but when she was done, they were done. And it was perfectly done.


Now...wanna go for a ride?

Words With Strangers by Nolebucgrl
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7176635/1/Words_with_Strangers
EPOV Companion Piece to Words with Friends. Movie star Edward Cullen is done with women and focused on his career. A stranger reaches out to him via Words with Friends. Will her words change his mind? Twilight - Rated: M

Review by: JenRar http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1669516/

I just have to say it's an honor to review Nolebucgrl's Words with Strangers. I love Nole...her stuff is amazing.

Now to the nitty gritty. Words with Strangers is the companion piece to Words with Friends and tells the story through Edward's POV. Some of the chapters are a bit repetitive if you read the same part in Bella's POV, but I like to read them both anyway, because she does a fabulous job of getting into Edward's head. Yes, we “hear” the same dialogue, but what was Edward thinking when they talked? You don't know unless you read it from his POV. And Nole is good about telling you ahead of time if the chapters are virtually the same or if there are enough differences, you need to read both. Even when she said they were the same, I still read both—because like I said, I love getting into Edward's head, and she does it so well.

Now to the heart of the story... Bella and her friends are huge fans of movie star Edward Cullen. One day, they see him on an interview talking about playing Words with Friends—you know, that game you can play on your phone and what not—and she and Alice both decided to try and figure out his username to play with him.

Imagine sitting down at your computer, trying to figure out what Robert Pattinson's username is. You could try silly things like his actual name (but he'd be kind of stupid to do that. ;) ), or KStewLuvr, or EdwardCullenRocks. That's the dilemma Alice and Bella are faced with—and when both start talking to someone, they both think they are right. Of course, this wouldn't be a Bella/Edward fic if Alice was the one talking to him, would it?

So Words with Strangers opens on the day Edward receives a new game invite from someone named BluBell22. He decides what the heck, he might as well see if it's someone he knows, so he plays and then asks if he knows them before closing the game. When he comes back, it's their first conversation :
______________________________________________________________

No, I just wanted someone new to play with.

You and me both, my new friend. Too bad the only playing I'd be doing would be with myself for awhile.

Oh, I didn't mean it like that! Sorry, I'm a spaz.

I found myself laughing. A spaz? That was different. Well, better a spaz than a stalker, right?

She/he had played spy. Hmm, that was an interesting choice of words to go with my stalker thought. Oh well, what was the harm in responding? I needed to find out if my new friend was a male or a female, because calling them he/she was kind of dumb. Time to have a little fun with my spaz.

A spaz? That's too bad. Here I was thinking my favorite cheese had come to life and was reaching out to me. I guess my nutritionist will be thankful that's not the case. I like playing with someone new, on occasion. Your move, Cheese Girl/Guy?

We'll see what they have to say to that. I played phage on their spy. Dad would be so proud of me retaining some of his medical knowledge, though I'd actually learned that one when I'd guested on Grey's Anatomy.

I closed the app just as Garrett told me it was almost time. Here we go again.
________________________________________________________________________

That's how their communication is for quite a while, and their relationship grows from there. It's so fun to watch as they both develop feelings for one another. I don't want to give a lot away, but suffice it to say, it isn't a totally smooth road!

One other thing Nolebucgrl does well is her side characters. I will state here (and I told her this in reviews, too! LOL) that I HATE Alice at first. I love her now, but she is a hard pill to swallow at first. But Rose (Bella's other friend) and Emmett (Edward's brother) are the perfect companions for Bella and Edward and just so much fun to read. Not only are Rose and Emmett great, but Edward's manager and publicist, Garrett and Kate, and his parents—his mother, especially—Esme and Carlisle, are quite hysterical. I've laughed so hard I've nearly been in tears several times because of one of more of those people.

To me, that's the mark of a great fic writer. There are a lot of people who can write an Edward (and Bella) that we fall in love with. Let's face it...Edward isn't a hard character to make lovable! But in the books, the other characters are mainly in the background. Nolebucgrl can take her side characters and make them just as lovable, just as fun and funny, without them taking over the story. They make you want to be their friend or their family member. I love that. There's not a review that goes by that I don't mention one or more of them when they appear. They are just that damn good.

If you haven't given Words with Strangers (and by extension Words with Friends!) a shot, this is your chance. She posts fairly regularly, so you'll never be left wanting *too* long, and they are fun, easy, and highly entertaining reads. Plus, the eventual lemons are damn well worth the wait! WWF/WWS gets a definite 5 out of 5 stars for me. (And don't forget to check out her other stories. First & Ten and Sideline Collision are both also brilliant.)

TLS Fics of the Week 3/15 - 3/21/2012



The Veil by Belladonnacullen
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7784269/1/The_Veil
You always have the choice between life and death... until you don't. There is poetry at the beginning and end of our journey, but it's what you make of the interim that counts. BxE, rated M, canon parings. Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Trouble and Jo

*Jo and Amy take a seat at The Lemonade Stand, order a tasty beverage or two, then chat about what they’ve been reading recently*

Trouble: Are you reading BDC’s new story, The Veil?

JO: um. YES.

Trouble: Of course you are. Because she’s fantastic and she writes the sexiest Edwards ever.

JO: And the fact that she’s doing this all secret like and mysteriously just gives me goosebumps like crazy.

Trouble: That’s what I love about this story. You experience this fic, you don’t just read it.

JO: I think what is truly getting inside my head and under my skin with this one, is the fact that Bella is struggling so hard with a certain decision she’s trying to come to grips with. Does she want to be with Edward? Forever? Or does she want to cling to that last bit of humanity that she has... while she still has it? *SIGH*

Trouble: Yes! How does someone who’s not only surrounded by death at work but who has been waiting for death to take her most of her life deal with the possibility of never having to go to the other side?

JO: RIGHT. And how she watches the wake of mourning it leaves behind in the families that are left behind.

Trouble: So the vamp part was unexpected, even though she hasn’t come out and said it, I think we can agree this is a Vampward. I love that in this story about the transition from life to death, the living is comforted by the “dead”. And the dead brings someone who’s been afraid to live to life. All these ironies make it so intriguing.

JO: Killing me. Let’s visit just one of the hints Belladonnacullen gives us as to what is going through this Bella’s mind...


His large hands slide around to my ass leaving aching, uncovered breasts. He hitches up my skirt and tugs on my tights and panties. Cool air from the open window kisses bare flesh.

He has me.

"You love me?" I probe.

His hands still and he takes the barest hint of a step backwards, surveying, licking his lips. "If there was a word that meant more, I would use it." He unbuttons and unzips my skirt so that it slides to the floor – a denim puddle around stocking feet.

"Love, in its conventional sense, cannot capture what you do to me."

My head swims. I want to bottle this moment and drink it in small sips throughout the rest of my life.

His hands run around to my ass again and he pulls my body roughly against his. His hardening cock presses over my pubic bone. I burn where we touch.

"I love your ass and I love your tits. But love doesn't really come close to the rest... But maybe I just never knew."

My knees are weak and I'm grateful for his strong arms. His eyes leave no room for dispute.

"You love me," I whisper.

"Like air. Do you love me?"

"I…"

"Tell me?"

The world stops with his quiet plea, or I stop and the world spins around me. This was never supposed to be about love.

"You can be honest with me, Bella."

My heart pounds in my chest. "You make me feel… alive - so amazingly alive, more than before, even. Being with you, it's the best thing, almost ever. But I'm frightened by… what this means."

"I frighten you?" He twists the back of my blouse, pulling my arms behind, binding me in pinstriped cotton.

"No," I breathe.

"That's a start."

My blouse goes slack, and arms and legs and fabric grapple and shift until I'm on my back on the bed and he's between my thighs, his salty lips against mine, a hand fisting my hair, another grasping my hip. I pull off his tie, and register the clank of a belt and subtle zip of a fly. He's everywhere at once, and one place in particular, and my chest wants to burst open when he thrusts inside. Brought to the edge and tipped over, I see bursts of light. I close my eyes and see stars.


Trouble: Mmm hmm. I think I love this vamp Edward better than the original. He’s got some of the same hang ups but he’s all about loving Bella, there to ground her while taking her to the moon and back (sorry, I couldn’t resist). His presence is hot and unnerving, comforting and scary all at the same time. I also am glad that we don’t say The Lord’s Prayer in latin in church - because I would be having impure thoughts. And let’s not forget Christmas lights. BDC is really messing with my relationship with baby Jesus.

JO: Dude. Don’t even get me started on what that chapter did to me. BDC words are like poetry in motion, which fits a vamp story quite well. And I love that I still feel a little intimidated by this Edward while swooning like a nut over the love he has for Bella. How completely and utterly captured he is by her and how it does not appear that he takes “No” for an answer with regards to this one particular question.

I can’t wait to see what her final answer is and how it’s all going to play out.

Trouble: So, I’m giving this story a five lemons out of five (note to TLS, you should TOTALLY start rating in lemons) It’s still a WIP but the chapters are nice and short. There always some Edward. There’s always a little physical connection in each one. And the glimpses into the lives of the patients Bella works with are beautiful and heartfelt. You aren’t going to hate Jessica or Mike in this fic. This is not about character flaws but about how we’re all the same when it comes down to it. We live, we love, we mess up, but in the end, we all step behind the veil and find the strength to let go. *whispers* but what if you didn’t have to let go? What if you could really have forever? How much would that shake up your existence when you’ve spent so long staring at the veil in front of you?

JO: I would have to concur, Amy. Belladonnacullen wraps all the things we love about fic and Edward and love and life... and gives them to us so perfectly in this story. What else can I add to what Amy has stated here? She’s locked and loaded everything these words are about and how they affect us on a very... errrm, deep level. Is it hot in here?

Trouble: They all need to go read now. I heard the Dick and PAW are hanging out in some pool hall around here. You game?

JO: Dude. You don’t have to ask me twice. We might need to take a bottle of Patron over with us, though. And maybe some Oreos. You know, to soften them up a little.

Trouble:    :)

Dusty by Yellowbella
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7659651/1/Dusty
She loves him. He loves her crazy. She's a hopeless romantic. He's just hopeless. She's afraid to let go. He won't let her. A story about a silly girl in love with a foolish boy. Here, forever is a lie. TeamBella23 - the realist and YellowGlue - the poet Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: VampsHaveLaws and aWhiteBlankPage

Love is Dusty.

We have to start off by saying we have never read a prologue as many times as we have with Dusty. Or been as emotionally invested in a story and its characters. Every last one of them.

We get butterflies in our tummies and our hearts beat in quick anticipation. And Thursdays are now referred to as Dusty Day. Our favourite day of the week.

From the onset, there is the potential, or the promise rather, that this story will be gut wrenching.

"When did you get back?" I run my fingers through my mother's willow tree, keeping my voice low and my head down as I walk through its branches.

"Today," he says, following me. "I came here first. I haven't been by my home yet."

I smile to myself, sickly satisfied with his confession. I take a chance and look, glimpsing over my bare shoulder. Edward walks behind me, following my lead. His eyes are tired and his skin is unwell. Edward's hair is dirty, but his clothes are brand new.

Those are sometimes the perks of a sinner who has money: they look disgustingly beautiful.

Dusty is a story about first love—real love—the kind that leads to bad decisions, shared secrets and excuse, excuse, excuse.

The kind that makes you feel like a grown up even though you’re still a child.

The kind that makes you a little crazy.

The kind you get up for in the morning.

The best of the best.

And the worst of the worst.

I know he loves me. I never doubt his love. I doubt his intentions and respect. I distrust his motives and allegiance.

Love?

I smother in his imperceptible, dictating love.

He's loves traitor.

With these words alone, you know that the two authors that make up YellowBella—YellowGlue and TeamBella23—are going to both kiss your heart and grind it to pulp beneath a dirty shoe. While the storyline and characters are captivating and unique, ultimately it’s the gorgeous, simple words that draw you in and leave you breathless. And when the authors tell you that this story is going to be catastrophic, you believe them.

When the story begins, Bella is an innocent eleven year old: a child. Edward is thirteen, troubled, and instantly takes notice of her.

And Alice... she rolls into Bella’s life on four wheels, almost knocking her down in the process. They become the kind of inseparable you know can’t last.

The girl just looks at me, tucking her board underneath her arm. Then she smiles, and so do I. "Are you eating a yellow popsicle for breakfast?" she asks, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand.

I look down at my popsicle and nod. "Yes."

"That's so cool. I wanted to eat cake for breakfast today, because it was my dad's birthday yesterday and we had chocolate cake last night, but Mom said no, so then I had to eat Frosted Flakes. Your mom is probably waaayyy cooler than my mom. Lucky. You're so lucky. I'm Alice Cullen."

She's a capsule of energy. I can hardly keep up. "I'm Bella Swan."

It’s here she also first meets Edward. He compliments her hair colour; she compliments his hair back. He teases; she takes it. He stares a lot; she pulls a funny face.

Bella is naive in so many ways. She’s temptingly innocent, and sometimes, without meaning to be, and definitely in the head of a teenage boy, teasingly sexual.

I have part of a Twinkie (courtesy of Alice) in my mouth, and I'm taken off guard by the question, so I don't bite down just yet. Edward stuck around by the gate with Alice and waited for me before class started today; his friend Petey is with him. I don't particularly like the way Peter looks at me, but then again, I don't think I like the way any boy looks at me. Even Edward, because sometimes he stares at me with those abnormal blue eyes and it's just scary.

Now Alice, Edward, and Petey are all waiting for my answer, and I don't want to tell them. So I chew my Twinkie slow, slow, slow. When the first bite is finished, I take another.

Edward smiles; his eyes are set on at my mouth. Then Petey says something like, "She's a fifth grader?" And Edward looks at him instead.

I'm still chewing, doing all I can to procrastinate this conversation. Alice becomes bored with my slow eating and starts riding her board around the parking lot. Edward waits for my answer after he kind of mumbles a little something to Petey, and Petey sort of rolls his eyes before crossing his arms over his chest and loud-sighing.

Boys are a new concept to Bliss. She’s too young to fully understand the impact of the friendship she begins with Edward. Too young to grasp what is about to happen before it’s all too late. Too young to control the events that follow: the sneaking around, the sweetest secrets, the heartbreaking emotional connection. The purest love and the ugliest betrayal.

Edward is simply lost. His addiction to Bliss comes second to other, more illicit addictions. His often contentious relationship with his parents, who pretend to give him boundaries, fuels the majority of his rebellious escapades. Lying. Drinking. Drug use. Causal sex. He’s on a downward spiral. Essentially, Edward is a monster. And he knows it. Admits to it. He knows he’s going to end up hurting her—it’s inevitable. And yet he can’t stop himself. He wants to keep her. And in doing so, will take her down with him.

Bella loves me no matter what. She's too naïve to know any better, and I'm reckless enough to let her, because I love her, too.

She's my softer-side, and I'm her motherfucking monster.

But he’s also just a boy. A boy who fell in love with a girl. A girl who is the better part of him—his heart.

Who really knows, but it was like Bliss came into our lives at just the right moment. I guess you can call it fate, if you believe in that shit. She's the friend my sister needed, the daughter my mom wanted, a child my dad doesn't feel guilty about, and the fucking reason my heart beats.

Isabella Bliss is the pièce de résistance. She's our saving fucking grace. She is my pulse and my nervousness and my … everything. She is my everything.

Despite his actions—his “relationships” with other girls—his love for Bliss is so strong. His inner war rages, simultaneously trying to push her away and pull her closer, all at the same time. His need to protect her will always be overshadowed by his need to consumer her. And in the end, how do you stay away from the very reason your heart beats?

The answer is: You don’t.

"I love you, though." I say with a smile, but she's not happy.

I wasn't supposed to fall in love with her. Before this happened, I didn't even know I was capable of loving another person like I love B. My idea of love is distorted and screwed. The only example I had was my parents, and they spent the first ten years of my life cheating, yelling, crying, and raging. They used my sister and I as leverage in their battles, and used their supposed love as a weapon to one-up each other. Until recently, I was under the impression that was how you love someone. Until Bella.

It's different now. My parents are passionate and not afraid to show how in love they are. They're always touching or looking at each other. My mom and dad move together, and they're considerate of one another. They're a team. It's them against the entire fucking world. And I want that with Bliss some day, I guess. But it's complicated. More complicated than I can wrap my mind around. It's been hard for me to forget how they were in the beginning. My parents stained my mind and wrecked me emotionally. But not only that. She's so protected, and I'm not. I should shield her from that, right?

I won't, though.

Their love is a secret. From everyone. It’s an unspoken understanding that nobody can know that she sneaks into his bed after Alice goes to sleep. Nobody can know the truth of who they are to each other. The unspoken lies are endless, but it’s the way Bliss justifies his actions, his indiscretions, that is heartbreaking.

And nothing is going to stop Edward.

I know this.

I know all of this.

I exhale slow, slow, slowly. I open my eyes and look up, and press my hands together over my chest.

I also know the sounds Edward's heart makes.

I know what his voice sounds like wrapped around I love you.

I know what the word forever feels like right over my heart.

I know that his eyes are brightest blue when they're barely open in the too-early-to-separate-ourselves morning, and I know the taste of the soft, soft, softest kisses.

Addiction. Obsession. All-consuming, drowning love. She’s his Isabella Bliss, Princess Pie, baby, baby, baby. He’s her tears, her heart, her forever—her never. Together they are love and destruction.

What resonates most about this story is how real it is. So many of us have been here, lived this, been completely consumed with a love that is not always healthy. It’s altogether the best feeling in the world and earth-shattering of moments.

This story will make you feel. It will make you want to scream. It will make you love, love, love. Read it. Fucking do it. Make Thursday Dusty Day. We’ll hold your hand.

I know Edward. Like nobody else, I know him. Just like he knows me. I don't know what to do, but I'll learn. I'll figure out how to deal, because I have to ... because even though it hurts, I can't imagine giving this up. He's so much to me. He's everything.

Exhaling steadily, I open the bathroom door and leave my helplessness behind. I trade it for knowledge, because I know we're a living, breathing, aching, love-twisting contradiction.

We're meant to be and can't even be.

We're impossibly necessary.

We're irreconcilably perfect.

We're absurd.

We're made for heaven, but we're doomed, and we can't even stop.

Love is banana popsicles.

Love is baseball sweaters that smell like Edward.

Love is jellies and cream soda floats.

Love is rule number two.

Love is pain.

Love is a traitor.

Love is Thursday.

Love is Dusty.

High Fidelity by Ireen H
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7771737/1/High_Fidelity
Edward is an unfeeling bastard. Bella gets caught up in his games. Language and lots of it. Lemons eventually. It's a slow burn, slow and painful. Mature. Lots of random pop culture references. AH, AU, ExB.

Reviewed by: Dragnfli Threethreesix

I was so excited when Nic asked me to review this story. But then, I got nervous.  How am I going to do this amazing story justice?

First off, this story is High Fidelity by IRene H.  I saw it rec’d here on TLS and people were swooning over it, so I decided to give it a go.  Just let me say that I sure was not disappointed.  It has been so long since I have been really excited over a story and to have everyone just as excited as I am!

It starts with a very short first chapter, but I was definitely hooked by the last sentence.

I am going to kill Edward Cullen.


Bella works in a real estate office in the same complex as insurance agent, Edward. According to Bella, they have worked “together” for five years and Edward has barely spoken a word to her. That is until he accuses Bella of hitting a car in the parking lot.  Best friend Jasper, backs up her story, but much to her dismay, Edward files a claim against her anyway. Hence, her wanting to kill him!

This is what gets the ball rolling between the two of them.  I have to say that this Bella is awesome.  She is a completely complex character, works on cars, caters on the weekends, has tattoos and has been through something major in her twenty-seven years, but I don’t want to give that away. She’s feisty, but not annoyingly so, strong yet has self-doubt, she is basically a real human with real feelings and emotions.                                                                                                                                                    
Most of the story, so far, is told from Bella’s point of view, but we get some glimpses into Edward and his life.  I have a feeling his upbringing has been quite complex. We first hear his side of things at Carlisle and Esme’s wedding.

I look at the clock on my cell phone. Only about ten hours to go. "What a farce."


"Maybe this one will last," Alice says as she paints on some gloss behind me.


"Right. Fifth time's the charm?"


"Sixth," she corrects.


"Fifth." Carlisle has only enjoyed wedded bliss on four previous occasions. "I'm a bastard, remember, sister?"


"Of course, brother. How silly of me."


Edward definitely gets some mixed reactions out of me.  Sometimes I want to punch him, and sometimes I want to kiss him. But one thing is for sure, Isabella certainly starts to have an effect on him.

"I can see your tattoos. That is pretty unprofessional, don't you think?" I probably wouldn't notice them if I hadn't seen her with her sleeves rolled up earlier.


She doesn't answer me. She just pours.


"How many do you have?"


She sticks the stopper back in the bottle. "That's not really your business."


"You should have done a better job of hiding them then, shouldn't you?" For some reason the thought of her skin all defiled like that is suddenly very intriguing. "How many?"


"I can't give you a number."


Very intriguing.


"How many hours?"


"In the chair?" Fuck yes in the chair. I think my eyes answer that question without the need for me to say anything.


She glares at me. "A lot." I never really noticed her mouth before. I mean I noticed it... but I didn't notice the thought of it wrapping around my cock. I'm noticing it now.


"Do you like pain, Isabella?"


She quirks a brow at me. A very hostile brow. "Do you?"


I smile and sip my Glenfiddich. I can't help it. "Your discomfort is somewhat amusing to me."

She is all sarcasm. "How gratifying."


Oh yea. That is some mouth.


I love Irene H’s writing style. It is refreshing and she throws such a great sense of humor in with all the heavier stuff and a great plot to go along with it.  On top of that, she is such a sweet person and really deserves all the recognition her first WIP is getting!  At only seven chapters in, I hope you will run and read it and join in with all the excitement!

Pocket Change by A White Blank Page
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7122044/1/Pocket_Change
I know of three kinds of change: the kind that jangles around in your pocket, the kind that happens slowly, every moment of every day, and the kind that blows you away in an instant.Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Primarycolors aka Robin Writes

As soon as I read the first chapter of aWhiteBlankPage’s story Pocket Change, I knew I would fall in love. The very first sentence, from Bella’s point of view, compels you to read more.

I was an orphan for two days. I thought it was forever, but like so many things, I was wrong. And then one day, I was right.

I immediately wanted inside Bella’s head. What else had she been wrong about? What happened to finally make her right? And if that wasn’t enough, aWhiteBlankPage pulls us in further with her vivid imagery, sparkling with details and heart clenching insight into the insecurities and fears we all feel.

I'm on the grade school playground in my new school in my new town in my new life.


"You have Dorothy shoes." I reach my hand out to be closer to them.

"You can't touch them." Her voice is cold and perfect at the same time.

"I wasn't going to touch them." I want to touch them. They are too beautiful to be real. Nothing should be that beautiful. Nothing real.

"Well, you can't. Keep your stinking fingers off of them. You'll rub the sparkles off. Actually, don't even look at them." She looks at me like I'm nothing.

"Fuck you, Rosalie."

I watch the beautiful shoes that belong to the impossibly beautiful girl march off the playground and into the school.

I sit in the principal's office and wait for Charlie. I look down at my own boring shoes, wishing that they were covered in red sparkles. Rosalie doesn't deserve those shoes. She's not Dorothy. She's the Wicked Witch.

I don’t want to give too much away. Just know that Pocket Change is wonderfully and lovingly told, from an author that has taken the time to truly understand her characters. aWhiteBlankPage doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff, but she holds our hand through the tears and heartache. And wow. It’s so worth it in the end. The romance is so beautiful and pure it will make you ache in all the right places… unravel you and put you back together in new and different ways.

I read Pocket Change as a work-in-progress and it was amazing. But now that’s it’s complete, it’s absolutely stunning in it’s entirety. The intense, tightly woven plot will make you think, make you feel and you won’t be able to set it aside until you’ve read the last chapter.

If you’ve read it as a WIP, read it again… I swear you’ll find new things that you missed before. And if Pocket Change is new to you, well, you’ve just found your next obsession. aWhiteBlankPage will take good care of you, I promise.

The Shadow That Remains by Iambeagle
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7691265/1/The_Shadow_That_Remains
A past tragedy left Bella desperate and destroyed until a recent accident changes everything.Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Livie Liv

"I kind of wish I were dead."

Ouch. And that’s how this bad boy starts.

Joking or not, we see from the start that Bella is miserable. She’s bitter, drowning herself in booze, avoiding her friends, and avoiding...Edward. Why you ask? Learning the answer to that question is why we’re all here.

The Shadow That Remains is one of those stories where you want to grab the characters, pull them under the blanket with you, and give them warm milk and cookies.

As the summary states, Bella is in an accident, but it’s what happens as a result of that accident that leaves you reeling. Haven’t we all wished we could go back in time, hit that reset button, and fix our mistakes? Right our wrongs? Well, Bella actually gets that chance... just not in the way you might think.

"Isabella," the doctor said slowly, "can you tell me what year it is?"

Their eyes were focused on me, waiting intently for an answer.

"It's 2009," I answered, wiping at my cheeks.

Dr. Randall's expression never faltered, but there was a flicker of doubt in his gaze that did nothing to soothe my fears. Which is why I refused to look over at Edward, despite how hard he was squeezing my hand.

"Isabella," the doctor said in a soothing voice.

Iambeagle unfolds a story that leaves you screaming, “It isn’t fair!” after every.single.chapter. It literally feels like you’ve been punched in the gut each time she reveals more details of Bella’s painful past...and equally painful present.

But this Bella...she’s tenacious in her quest to take back what she believes is rightfully hers, and nothing or no one will stand in her way. Even when the biggest obstacle she faces is the very man she wants the most.

I walked over to where he stood, pulling his hand into mine. "You're not even trying. Fuck, you just admitted you don't even love that girl, yet you're still fighting this!"

"Because you're going to break me all over again, Bella! Christ, don't you get that?" he snapped, yanking his hand out of mine. "There's nothing left for you. You took it all."

See what I mean? Gut punch. And Edward will just break your heart. Iambeagle throws in a couple of chapters from his point of view, but it's the little strategically placed snippets of one or two sentences from him that will cause a full-fledged lip quiver.

If you’re not reading this already, then please to be getting over there and rectifying that right now! I promise you won’t be disappointed with the nine chapters already posted or the awesome journey that lies ahead!!

Cutlass by TKegl
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7792629/1/Cutlass
Isabella Swan is certain notorious pirate, Edward Cullen, murdered her father and stole his prized cutlass. Out for revenge, she sneaks onto his ship, but Captain Cullen claims she has the wrong man. A tale of the search for truth…and treasure of course. Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Obsmama

When I first saw Tkegl chatting about writing a pirateward, way back last summer on twitter I was so excited by the idea.  A swashbuckling adventure with our favorite cast just sounded so fun and just the idea brought a smile to my face.  It was a big idea and one not many authors could really do justice.  But wow Tkegl not only delivers she  exceeded my expectations.  She creates such a  rich tapestry with her words.   I see the characters not as Edward and Bella, but I really see One Eyed Eddie ( though I would never call him that to his face) and Isabella the strong willed, feisty siren that has flipped the Black Arrow on it’s head.  The crew and all the beautiful locations around them really do add such a body to this tale.

“Only a handful of fluffy white clouds marred the wide expanse of blue sky as the Black Arrow sliced through the choppy waters of the Atlantic. Captain Edward Cullen tilted his head, eyeing with approval the full sails billowing overhead and the full crew busily at work on deck. He stood, legs splayed widely, with a compass open in one palm, the fingers of his other hand wrapped lightly around the wheel. He allowed the ship its head more than trying to force it in a specific direction.”

There are so many moments that I have caught myself laughing out loud while reading this.  Her characters are multifaceted and so entertaining.  Isabella is looking for revenge, her father was killed and she has evidence that the ship’s Captain Edward Cullen is the responsible party.  The high jinks that occur range from cross dressing to attempted murder, a giant prison cell mate named Jake, and having to avoid the shudder inducing attention of Newton a deck hand. The UST is crazy between Edward and Bella with both wanting to hate the other and the attraction between them only causing them to be more and more furious with the other.

“Still, Edward readily conceded that kissing Isabella Swan wasn't quite as distasteful as he'd imagined it would be.She was soft – surprisingly so, considering her stiff demeanor – her body forming around his in a rather distracting way. She gasped in outrage when he first touched his lips to hers, her fingers gripping at his shoulders to keep her balance. She struggled slightly, but then...Then...Then she softened even further, a quiet sound forming in the back of her throat as Edward's hands clutched at the back of her scalp and he tilted his head to deepen the kiss. Her lips parted, breath mingling with his, and Edward felt a shot of heat plunge straight to his groin. He snarled under his breath, tongue dipping out to taste her as his arm tightened around her waist.”

The story is 6 chapters in and updates each Tuesday, come and board the Black Arrow with us and watch this adventure unfold.  So many mysteries tied in to the story and so many questions left to answer.  I for one can’t wait to see it all unfold.

Love In My Box by CosmoandMarvar
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5782455/1/Love_in_My_Box
Bella's an intellectual free spirit and Edward is a reserved, slightly geeky med student. They have a brief, but intense encounter on Sp Brk in Miami. Can they find true love through emails? There will be lemons and laughs. Look who's writing this! Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Twilover 76

I was really late to the party, but Love in My Box became an instant favorite the moment I started reading.  Have you ever had a fic that you simply couldn’t put down once you started? Well this was one of those for me.  Cosmo and Marvar kept me in stitches, with their author notes being almost as amusing as the narrative itself.

The story is told through a series of letters, emails, and varying POVs, and takes you from a spring break hook-up in Miami to a long-distance blossoming romance from Dartmouth to UC Berkeley.  Bella and Edward are both adorably awkward, yet perfect for each other.

Edward is a medical student, who takes everything literally:

I'm glad you remembered me. . .and everything, though I wish it had been more pleasurable for you. I'm sorry if I was inadequate in any way. I blame my lack of experience for my shortcomings. Rest assured, I am currently studying to rectify this situation – and I am a very good student. (I hope I don't appear immodest by that statement)

Thank you for saying I have 'game.' You make me act like a different person. Most people perceive me as an 'Edwardbot' - a study machine without friends. I do actually have one friend named Emmett who says I "have a stick up my ass." (Please forgive the swearing. It was a direct quote.) I'm attempting to loosen up and be more fun under his guidance. His first idea (to go to Miami) was unbelievably successful. I am also attempting to use the Urban Dictionary's word of the day to appear more fun in my everyday conversations.

So, on that note. . . Bella, you have a fantastic body. . . you definitely don't have a 'muffin top.' (fat hanging over your waistband).

Bella is shy, foul-mouthed (but trying to convert), and free spirited:

I don't know that I would say that I 'like' profanity…just that I use it a lot. It's a force of habit, I suppose. If you hang out in coffee houses with moody and emo pseudo-poets long enough, your vocabulary can become quite vulgar. (I went through a phase during undergrad.) It was unfortunate and I have since learned my lesson. Men who hang out in coffee houses aren't artistic and tortured…they're douche-bags. In an effort to please you, I have abstained from cursing since my last email. I hope that makes you happy. Does it?

Anyway, I'm much more interested in this certain 'situation' where you think it would be hot for me to say a dirty word. What situation would that be? What dirty word would you like me to use? I think it would be scorching hot for you to tell me…in detail. Be descriptive. This would be a great way to make use of your literary devices.

I'm happy to know that you aren't 'studying' with anyone else. I mean, I know that we are just typing and getting to know each other, but Edward, I think about you all the time. It pleases me to know that you are thinking of me, too. If you have a question about the female anatomy, you could always just ask me. I do have all the 'girl-parts' you're trying to learn about. Also…please don't worry about my not getting the 'full experience.' I assure you…the partial one was enough to intrigue me…obviously.

Edward, with his strongly-worded letters and diagrams to Bella about proper eating regimens, quickly became one of my favorite fic Edwards out there.  What can I say? I have a thing for gorgeous, sweet nerds.

Not to mention he can be sexy as hell, even though he doesn’t know it.

I have been working on my body since Jessica dumped me for being "less than manly" and not good in bed. Well, to be truthful, she called me a pussy and a lousy fuck. I was trying to be tactful while explaining. It's caused me to take a look at myself - to see a skinny lab rat that cared about nothing except school. I never put any effort into that relationship and was not really sad that it ended. I am actually thankful to her for opening my eyes to my shortcomings. Now I was putting my plan to action - and I am excellent at planning. Emmett calls it 'Operation Studward.' How embarrassing.

But it has produced results. (ie. Bella. Sex. Miami.)

He's basically giving me a make-over. Emmett is quite agreeable about the whole process, only making fun of me once when I questioned the need for a haircut that makes me look like I've just participated in a sexual tryst. He claims 'sex hair' makes women drop their panties. That seems rather unsanitary, but I don't say that.

"Let's do the crunches off the incline bench, Edward. Your abs are starting to look good."

"Yes, my rectus abdominis muscles are more defined. I need to work on my transverse abdominis, however." Emmett looks at me blankly.

I lift up my shirt to show him what I'm talking about. I run my hand over the muscles in question as I speak.

"See. Right here is where I need some more work."

Emmett guffaws, "Oh, Eddie. This is working like gangbusters. That girl on the treadmill is losing her shit over you."

I glance over at the girl who does look like she's taken a euphoria-inducing substance. Should I call the authorities?

"What did I do?"

"Well, you were fondling your sweaty abdomen and tracing the 'v' into your shorts."

"So?"

Along with the endearing romance of Bella and Edward, there are plenty of comical family and friends to help complete the story.  Alice marries her shaman-style professor, Jasper; Rose puts Emmett on a sex embargo; Esme drinks like a fish and loves sex talk; and Bella’s parents are the classic “opposites attract”, where Renee is a carefree hippie and Charlie is a no-bullshit Republican.

By the way, the forbidden gun closet sex when Edward goes to meet Bella’s parents is particularly steamy.

Go check out this sweet, lemony, romantic, and hilarious (now complete) fic, and leave these pretty ladies some love. You won’t be sorry.  Just make you have no witnesses when tears are rolling down your face from laughing so hard.