Showing posts with label Fics of th Week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fics of th Week. Show all posts

Sunday, March 4, 2012

TLS Fics of the Week 3/1 - 3/7/2012



HFS Fandom! These sensational SIX fics of the week are guaranteed to rock your socks off. I'm so in love with all of these poll winners and I know that you will be too. I would like to thank each and every one of you who have ever reviewed a story for our fic of the week features. You guys are the heart of this blog, so thanks! Grab a glass of wine and dig in!
By the way, the $6.99 bottle of Cocobon red wine <--- (off topic wine rec)
from Trader Joe's is AMAZING.



Contextually Speaking by Cosmogirl7481
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7816783/1/
Bella spends her days surrounded by books and her nights immersed in them. Reading but not living. Imagining but not experiencing. One night changes everything. A story about wrong numbers and a stranger with all the right words. Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Jaime Arkin

"I hope you don't mind. But I'm a little drunk and a lot naked. And REALLY fucking hard."

I've been waiting and waiting for someone to write a naughty texting fic for so long and low and behold, cosmogirl7481, who I stalk on the regular has fulfilled my every desire.

In Contextually Speaking, we meet Bella.  She's an over thirty single woman, with cats (who she suspects are gay), and who loves to read.  What she's settling in to read in this first chapter is what we'd categorize as 'fluff and smut' - sound familiar?  I love that cosmo goes into this tongue in cheek, joking around and teasing about things we all do! Thank god for e-books is my mantra and Bella in this story is no different!

Just settling in with her choice for the evening, the above message comes into her phone and her whole evenings plans are changed in an instant.

"How drunk is a little drunk?
Not so drunk that I don't know I want you naked with me."

then

"Call me.
Why? Why do you want me to call you?
Because I want to hear the voice of the nameless woman who's still making me hard."

This story isn't just about dirty texting and dirty talking, because it does eventually lead to a phone conversation. There are definitely the dirty words the pushing the limits of ones comfort but it's also about letting free of those constraints we put on ourselves.

Bella is so introverted and in her own world in this short story that she has no outside friends in her life. It's made up of her family and her coworkers, yet the entire time we're reading you get this feeling that the person texting her knows her... knows about her and certain parts of her life.  All of which is confirmed in dramatic flair later in the story - no... i'm not spilling - Go read it!

We are privy to her doubts... about her looks, about her actions and about who he thinks she might or might not be and this fantasy world that I know, at least for me, I'd love to experience some day. I mean can you imagine getting a random text from a hot, available guy who talks as dirty as this Edward and looks like him to boot?  Best. Dream. Ever.

You all know about my debilitating crush on cosmogirl7481 but it's not unfounded.  She has an incredible way with words and telling a story to weave it around you, pulling you in and making you think you're a part of it.  Contextually Speaking is the perfect short read, hot & steamy, sweet with a touch of sad and exactly the kind of story I love.

I'm going to leave you with one of my favorite passages...

"Do you want me to make you feel good?"

Yes, yes, yes, yes….

A million times, plus a little bit more…YES!

"I already feel good," I tell him. I don't know if I should speak. I'm pretty sure that whatever he might have to say is so much better and so much hotter than anything that could come out of my mouth. It's true. In fact, it might be the truest thought that's ever occurred to me. But then I realize that I have to say something else because I want him to know that it's him. All of this is him. "I mean…you've already made me feel good."

Another small groan from him.

Maybe a grunt.

And I briefly wonder if he's touching himself.

Is his hand on his cock?

Is his cock as big as the cocks I read about in my super secret Amazon stash?

Probably not.

But he's not really here, so I'm going to imagine that it is.

"You already feel good?" he asks, his voice thick and tight.

And his voice. I swear to god…every single time it kills me a little more.

"Yes."

"You have no idea," he whispers.

Shivers…all over my body.

"I don't?"

"No," he says softly. Even though it doesn't sound soft. Even though it sounds like saying it was difficult. "We're just getting started."

This story is complete, so go now and check it out if you haven't, you will be thanking me later!



Fatherhood, Formula & Other F Words by Anhanninen-rec'd by Jaime Arkin
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7520210/1/
When man-whore, foul-mouthed Edward's life takes an unexpected turn, he's left with a baby to raise. With the help of a friendly neighbor, he learns sometimes the unexpected could be the best thing that's ever happened. All Human Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Ag Fanfic

Edward has everything he wants in life. He has a job he loves, that hes talented at and has charisma to charm ladies in to his bed. He’s a surgeon at Olympic Medical Center, where his father is chief of staff.  Coming home one night he sees a girl in the parking lot he’s never seen and when he talks to her he thinks shes odd. He goes on about his life and she catches him before he goes in to his apartment and tells him that he had a visitor but she felt like she should invite her in to wait for him. Edward gets a blast from his past and an unexpected change in his life... a baby. Kate, the baby momma, says she tried but she couldn’t do it, that she resented the baby, that she was 22 and couldn’t love her. What does Edward do after Kate walks out the door??  Calls his mom, like every male would do!! He doesn’t know the first thing about babies and he doesn’t want to know.

When Mom came back in with the formula, she sat down next to Dad and set the bottle down, putting one of my dishtowels over her shoulder. Dad passed her the little girl. I watched carefully, maybe a bit too closely, as Sofia drank from the bottle she fed her.
"How uh . . . how did you make that?" I asked.
Mom looked up and smiled. "I can show you. It's very simple. You boil the water, let it cool to room temperature, add it to a bottle, and then add the formula powder. Shake it to mix it all together, and then test the temperature on your wrist."
Why did that seem like she was speaking a different language? I mean, it seemed simple in theory, but actually doing it? I just . . . I'd probably add too much water or some shit and hurt the little girl. Yeah, that'd be great. I'd water down the formula and take away all the nutrients she needed.


Carlisle and Esme run off to Walmart to get what she will need and leave a very unhappy Edward and baby Sofia alone once again.  Edward lucks out and gets her to sleep but then she wakes up with a vengeance and screams until the New Girl comes and helps by changing her diaper.  His parents come back and set him up with what they got.  He gets a paternity test to make sure that she is his and she is. He feels his life is not his own and won’t be for a while.

"What do I do?" I whispered, burying my face in my hands, letting the paper fall to the floor.
After three exhausting days, I had to figure out what the next step was, and I was completely clueless.
"You man up and be a father," he said. "We'll help you as much as we can, but she's your daughter. You have to take care of her. She's your priority now."
I shook my head. "I can't fucking do this."
"You don't have a choice. The son I raised is a good person. He's responsible."
"I'm not responsible! I fuck anything that's hot and comes my way in a bar."
"Not anymore you don't."
"It's who I am. It's what I like doing. I can't fucking go to play dates and read bedtime stories to a kid. That's not me."
"Look at that precious girl by your feet," he said, leaning back in his chair. "She depends on you now. Everything you will do affects her in some way."
"Great. So I'm responsible for ruining her life?"
"You're responsible for giving her a good life."
"And if I can't? Then what?"
He took his reading glasses off and set them in front of him. "I believe you can, son. You're life has changed permanently now."
"What if I don't want it to change?"
"Again, you don't have a choice."
"I'm getting a fucking vasectomy," I sighed.
He laughed. "Oh, Edward, if you think you'll have time for sex, you have another think coming."
I sat up and ran my hand through my hair. "It's not funny."
"It's a little funny."
"Not even close. I like sex. I don't like kids."
"They go hand-in-hand, my boy. You should know this. How much money did I spend putting you through medical school for you to forget that sex leads to babies?"


Poor Edward. Most people have nine months to get ready and adjust to the thought of a baby. Obviously Kate didn’t adjust and now we have daddy Edward trying to get his life in order and take care of his new baby. I don’t want to give away too much but I am loving this story so much already and I can’t wait to see where it goes. How will Bella become apart of Edward and Sofia’s life? Go check this out and leave the author some love, because it is well worth the time!!!



Going Under by Sparklnfade-rec'd by Jaime Arkin
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7728698/1/
It's been ten years since the summer Bella Swan's life changed. What will happen when she comes face to face with the reason for it? She went under once, will she go under again? AH ExB
Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Twilover 76

Looking for sweet, romantic fic set in the sun and surf?  Going Under by sparklnfade is the story for you.  The short chapters make for an easy read, while encapturing romance, drama, angst, comfort, and family all together.  This compelling love story, featuring sun-drenched characters, is a wonderful escape from the clichéd pale and pasty Edward and Bella we normally encounter.

You are engaged from the start, beginning in current-day Hawaii, where Bella introduces us to the world of surfboards and beaches.  It would be easy to be envious of her globe-trotting lifestyle, getting paid for doing her dream job while flitting from one paradise to another.  Everything seems perfect until a blast from her past suddenly walks in the door.


My smile slips as I stare slack jawed at the boy who's just walked in. My heart takes off inside my chest, pounding like it hasn't in a long, longtime. The panic I feel is expected… the hurt, though, knocks me back a step, all one-two uppercut.

Dirty blond hair, big green eyes and those lips.

…They're his lips.

Though he's twice the size I remember, his hair has that same goofy flop, that same crazy twist in the middle that leaves it laying this way and that. He's not a little kid anymore. He's a young man. A young man who looks so much like his father it makes my knees weak.

A memory flashes; one of him then… eyes red and cheeks stained with tears. My own eyes burn at the thought of how much I've missed. How many years have gone by.

I'm frozen, unsure what to do. I'm not ready for this... but I know it's too late to hide.
  

You are immediately captured by Bella’s emotions, needing to find out who the boy and his father are.  Many questions run through your head, making you eager to sink your teeth into the story:  Who are they?  Why is Bella so affected?  Why have so many years passed without seeing them?

From there, we are taken back to the beginning, where 18-year-old Bella and her father Charlie move to Santa Cruz, CA from Forks.  Bella has always dreamed of a life traveling the world, and is happy to leave the sleepy, small town in the northwest.  She is out seeking a summer job, before starting college in the fall, and is drawn in by CC Surf and Skate shop, owned and run by Edward Cullen and his younger brother Jasper.  Despite Bella knowing nothing about surfing or skating, they take her under their wing and give her a job…on the promise she learns how to surf.

When six rolled around, I was standing on a deserted beach with clenched fists and a heart I was sure would pound out of my chest. It was too dark and quiet to be normal, and that only added to the nerves dancing in my tummy.

Not even Edward's lithe, muscular body strolling out of the ocean all wet and looking as delicious as I'd ever seen him calmed me down.

Okay, maybe a little.

He threw his surfboard into the sand at my feet and shook the water from his hair. "Morning."

"Morning," I replied shakily.

"Ready?"

"Not even a little bit."

He cracked a tiny smile. "Don't worry, I promise not to be too rough on you."


We get to see a romance bloom between Bella and Edward, with several touching moments, both in the water and on the sand.  Sparklnfade’s details of the scenery make you want to wax up your own board and hit the waves, although you really experience Bella’s frustration during the learning process.  It takes her awhile to get the hang of it, but the rewarding feeling when she finally does shines through.

I had done it. I was surfing.

Adrenaline flowed to my hands and arms and my head, making the experience that much greater. My heart pounded so fast I felt it in my toes.

Logically, I knew it only lasted seconds – but it felt like the longest, most exhilarating few moments of my life. I rode that wave as long as it allowed before sinking into shallower water in shock. I felt like I was dreaming, like if I blinked too many times I might suddenly wake up and realize my subconscious had been the only part of me taken for such an amazing ride.

Edward's voice reminded me it was real as he splashed his way through the water, stopping only when I was in his arms and my feet were dangling in the air. "I knew you could do it," he breathed. "I fucking knew it."

His grin was so big and bright and full of pride, I couldn't help myself. My stomach flipped and my chest lit on fire as I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him back with everything I had.

Best. Day. Ever. Edward didn't hesitate to wrap his arms more firmly around me, spinning us around in celebration. I buried my face against his shoulder, inhaling the familiar sweet, salty ocean smell I'd come to think of as pure him. Warm breaths soaked into the cool skin of my neck, and I wished more than anything I could pull away and feel that same warmth against my lips. That I could just tell him the truth about how I felt and have him reciprocate…

I didn't want to care about the consequences, or that I knew I shouldn't have felt about him the way I did. I wanted to throw caution to the wind and bask in the happiness and excitement of the moment by showing him how I felt.

But I did care, and losing what we did have by making a stupid move was a risk I wasn't willing to take.


The powerful sexual tension between Bella and Edward has you begging for that first kiss, first admission of feelings, first everything.  Stomach flips and racing hearts aren’t just reserved for the characters as the readers feel those same sensations when Bella and Edward finally give into each other.

He took another step forward, reached out with both hands, and touched my cheeks, fingers sliding until they were wrapped tightly in my hair and he was pulling my face toward his. The green in his eyes was gorgeous up close, so raw, intense… so completely uninhibited. Like he'd lowered a screen and let me see right into his soul.

The air in my lungs disappeared as I watched his mouth part, tongue peeking out to trace his bottom lip. Anger, disappointment – everything I'd been feeling – disappeared and the air around us shifted. Warmth crawled up my body, and I'm not sure who moved first, but suddenly my hands were wrapped around his biceps and I had the taste of him in my mouth, all sweet and coffee and mint.

He kissed so softly; tentative and caring. Top lip… bottom lip. A lick and then a suck. My fingers tightened and our kiss grew stronger, more demanding. He moaned. I melted. My mouth parted and his tongue swirled against mine, teeth tugging my bottom lip until he slowed. With two soft kisses he pulled away, washing warmth across my cheek as he breathed heavily. The hold he had on my hair loosened as his lips teased my jaw, and then my neck.

Hands dropped to my shoulders, arms, and then wrapped around my waist. And I couldn't believe this was happening. His chest danced heavily against my own, sending shivers through me as cold water from his wetsuit soaked into the material of my shirt.

"Do you know what you do to me?" he whispered, lips brushing each word against my skin like an artist puts paint to canvas.

I couldn't answer him, but I didn't let go. The truth was that I didn't know if I'd ever be able to let go again.


As much as you are rooting for our favorite couple to be together, their age difference is not the only reason an affair between them has an underlying forbidden tone.  Did I mention he has a 3-year-old son?  Little Lisle is a ball of energy, and so charismatic you immediately want to hug him and play with his long, golden locks.

Trouble in paradise is brewing throughout, and you know as you are reading of star-crossed love, that there are plenty of issues which could break the couple apart, including a medding ex, hurt feelings of uninformed friends, and possibilities of unfulfilled dreams.  I won’t give any more details, because I don’t want to ruin the experience for you.  Go check out this must-read story, and enjoy getting pulled into the world of Surfward!




High Anxiety by EdwardsBloodType-rec'd by Suebee Betafairy
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5222490/1/High_Anxiety
Cute, trendy Bella returns home to escape the heartache of her past. She immediately befriends neighbors Jasper and Edward, bonding with them in the treehouse out back. Bella and Edward discover they have more in common than they ever dreamed of. AH A/U Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Mss L Masen

High Anxiety was first brought to my attention by one of my lovely fb friends, the gorgeous woman formerly known as APM, aka AidanPaul Momma, but currently known as Jezza Bella. She knew I was an angst kind of girl and figured that I’d like this story. Turns out, I’m a glutton for punishment, because as the angst reached its peak, Jezza had to take a pause until it was over so that she could pick it up when things got better. I, on the other hand, just kept on keeping on. And it absolutely wrecked me.

I’d never had a fic affect me as hard as this one. I literally tossed and turned and worried and lost sleep and couldn’t guess where or how or what the hell Bella was gonna do after catching Edward in his room with Tanya… Dudes, I was freaking the FUCK OUT. No lie.

Now for you ladies that haven’t read HA, you’re probably wondering what the hell was Edward doing with Tanya in his room. Well, I’m sorry to tell you, I’m not gonna say. I hate ruining stories for people, and you can’t like angst without loving the torture of not knowing if you’ll get your HEA or what.

So let me tell you a bit about this story. We have the usual suspects in this one, Bella is new to town and Edward and Jasper are her neighbours and are brothers. Bella quickly befriends Jasper and there is a bit of a romantic vibe going on there… that in itself is already torturous (I’m a hardcore ExB kind of girl). However, Jasper’s brother is this huge mystery to Bella. He keeps to himself. Goes out of his way to avoid her. Avoid touching her. What is his deal? Of course as the story progresses, we find out what indeed is his deal. And, it sucks.

This obstacle doesn’t keep these two apart though. They find a way around it, and in doing so, we are privy to some of the hottest no sex sex scenes I’ve read. Seriously. There are super highs and SUPER LOWS in this one. And you have no clue how it’s going to go. High Anxiety is so true its title. It keeps you in high anxiety to the very, very end. And it’s the sweetest torture.

If you like a fic to absolutely pull you in and beat the crap out of you only to toss you away at the end, then this puppy is for you. I won’t tell you if you get your HEA, but I promise you, you won’t be disappointed. Give this one a go, you will not be sorry. Trust.

But, just in case I haven't convinced you yet, I'll leave you with this little tidbit...

As I made my way down the hall, I approached Edward's half open door tentatively, my ears perking up at the distinct sound of arguing…two voices, Edward…and a girl.

A fucking girl?

My heart felt as though it abruptly and violently plummeted into my spleen, wherever the hell that was, sickening me instantly. I felt my ears grow hot as I approached the door hesitantly, wondering who in God's name he could possibly be arguing with and for what reason. Honestly, my first thought was that it was maybe one of the Skank Squad who had wandered carelessly into his room, and I totally was not in the mood for a beat down at the moment.
I never in a million years expected to see her.


Enjoy Ladies!!



The Selkie Wife by Lissa Bryan-rec'd by Mina Rivera
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7598322/1/The_Selkie_Wife
Set during the reign of "Bloody Mary" Tudor. Bella is captured by Edward to raise his daughter. He promises to release her one day, but will he? Court intrigues and danger around every corner. Can they, and their new-found love, survive? Rated M/OOC/AU Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: Jo Kline

A true period piece needs to take me on a journey. Make me feel like I am really in the time period. The Selkie Wife by Lissa Bryan does just that and so much more. It is an AU/period fic and it’s an amazing combination. It takes place during the reign of Mary Tudor, the daughter of Catherine of Aragon and King Henry VIII. The love story between Edward and Bella is unusual, yet perfectly beautiful. Edward is Duke of Cullen and his wife has just died, leaving him with a daughter. He loves the little girl very much, but in those times a father’s affection was just not shown. He does, however want a loving mother for his little girl.

 He followed the faint thread of sound. There was a tiny peninsula which jutted out into the water, with high rocks in the center. Edward slipped to the end and peeked around. Shock made his jaw drop, froze him in his tracks.
Two nude women were sunning themselves on the rocks, their creamy skin gleaming in the warm sunlight. Edward couldn't look away from the mesmerizing sight. He'd never even seen his wife completely unclothed. The smaller of the two had long, dark brown hair, which the other woman was combing for her.
As he watched, a gray seal popped out of the water, its clumsy body flopping on the stone beside the women. To his astonishment, the seal seemed to split down some invisible seam and another naked woman appeared.
Selkies! Edward had heard the stories, of course, but had never imagined seeing one. Had he been born a few hundred years later, Edward would have questioned his sanity at what he was seeing, but he lived in an age in which the existence of witches, demons, sea-monsters, ghosts and fae-folk was widely accepted.

Enter Bella, a Selkie. The myth of the Selkies is actually what makes these characters so interesting and adds an element to this story that is literally out of this world. Selkies, according to myths and this story:

“were shape-shifters, some said sea fairies, others said the souls of those who had drowned. They were supposed to be immortal, never aging once they reached maturity. Their pelts were what allowed for the transformation. If their pelt were lost or destroyed, the selkie would be trapped in human form, and if it were stolen, they were beholden to their captor until it was willingly returned. Beautiful when in that human form, they were said to have great powers of seduction over mortals. The men were supposed to be incredible lovers, the answer to the prayers of many a dissatisfied wife and lonely spinster, summoned by shedding seven tears into the sea. The women were said to be excellent wives and mothers because of their gentle nature, but for both male and female, their first love would always be the sea and they could pine away for it if kept trapped on land for too long.”

Knowing these legends, Edward captures Bella’s pelt, forcing her to stay with him on land and becoming his wife. He wants her to take care of his daughter, thinking her maternal nature will be a perfect fit. Turns out she is the ideal mother to his daughter. She is loving, smart, and caring. She’s also fiercely protective of little Elizabeth, especially upon their first meeting.

As they reached the door, he heard Rosalie shout, "You willful little imp!" accompanied by the sound of a slap. He pushed open the door and found Rosalie still standing over Elizabeth, her hand drawn back to deliver another blow.
His timid little selkie wife turned into a lion.
With an outraged snarl, Bella charged forward, knocking Rosalie back into the stone wall, her forearm pressed over Rosalie's throat. She was much smaller than Rosalie, but her aggression more than made up for the difference in size. Her eyes were shooting sparks of rage and Edward was entranced by her ferocious beauty. In this moment, in her fire, Bella was magnificent.
"You dare to strike my lord husband's child?" Bella growled.
Rosalie gasped and gurgled, pulling ineffectually at the arm cutting off her air supply. She cast a pleading look at Edward, who was still frozen in place.
"If you ever strike that child again," Bella hissed, "I will beat you 'til you are naught but pudding!"

Surprisingly, Selkies spend time near land and they are up to date on current events, so Bella knows quite a bit about living as a human, but she does not master the etiquette a wife of a Duke should have. The mistakes she makes and her eating habits are unusual, but endearing. Selkies are also sexual creatures, so she has no idea why Edward doesn’t want to have sex with her.

"You can not sleep here," he said. "I'll have the servants make up the bed in the lady's chamber."
"I must sleep alone?" she asked, her voice sounding shocked.
He cleared his throat. "I- Bella, er ... I don't intend to lie with you."
She seemed disappointed. "How will we have babies, then?"
Bella is adorable in all that she does not know and strong-willed in all that she does.
"Edward?" She nervously twisted her hands.
"Yes, Bella?"
"Why won't you lie with me?"
He looked away. "I cannot."
She looked stricken. "It doesn't work?"
He let out a bark of laughter. "No, it works just fine. I- I'm still mourning my wife, Bella."
"You loved her." It was a statement, not a question.
"I did." He sat down in a chair, raking a hand through his hair.
"And she loved you?"
"Yes."
"Don't you think she'd want you to be happy?" I would want the man I loved to dance and sing and have lots of babies."
"It feels as though I am being unfaithful," Edward confessed.
Bella looked at him thoughtfully for a moment and then stepped closer. Closer. She stepped between his knees. Closer. Until he could feel the warmth radiating from her body. His breath caught in his throat. Those dark eyes, they captured him. She gently wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingertips teasing the the edge of his hairline. His heart pounded.
Slowly, ever so slowly, she lowered her face to his, until they were only an inch apart. It had to be her selkie magics, because he was frozen in place as her lips lowered to his.
Soft ... Christ, they were so soft. He groaned softly end pulled her down onto his lap and kissed her the way he'd secretly wanted since the moment he saw her on the beach. He tore his mouth away. "Bella, I can't."
"You can," she said. She took off her bonnet and laid it on the arm of the chair and turned her back a little and reached up to pull at her laces. His mouth went dry. Lust. It wasn't a sin, he reminded himself, not when it was toward his wife, but oh God, it burned within him with a sudden, terrible intensity. He had to have her.
She could not undress herself, but he'd be damned if he would call a servant now. He pulled away her stomacher, pins flying and tugged at her laces, and his fingers were made clumsy with haste, tangling the laces in knots. Edward gave a growl of impatience and pulled his jeweled dagger from his belt, slicing through them cleanly, dropping the pieces to the floor as he went. Her kirtle, petticoats and farthingale got the same treatment. She stood before him, glorious in her nudity. He groaned, yanking at his doublet, tearing buttons loose. He pulled it off and dropped it to he floor, yanking his linen shirt over his head.
He yanked down his hose and tore off his codpiece, now as naked as she. Bella was not shy. She surveyed his body, her eyes as bright and hot with desire as his own must be. He picked her up and carried her to his bed, sweeping the coverlet aside with one hand and laying her down on the white sheets. She held up her arms for him and he eagerly went into them, kissing her deeply.

That is only the beginning of the wonderful love story. They embark on a marriage filled with love and acceptance, but life has bumps, does it not? These two have to deal with the time they live in. Mary Tudor burned over 280 religious dissenters, the ones who would not conform to the Roman Catholic Church the Queen implemented from the previous Protestant rule. Bella becomes a lady in waiting to the Queen and Edward is a member of court, so both must show a united front backing the Queen, even when they do not agree with her rule. It’s an up and down battle and along the way Bella discovers she is happiest with Edward, but longs for the sea. Edward understands what a truly magnificent wife Bella makes, and when he decides to love her, it is fierce and unrelenting. He finds ways to get her to the sea, so she can rejuvenate, all at the cost of his own reputation. If the wrong person were to see her frolicking in the waves, it would be considered witchcraft and she could be prosecuted as such. At the beginning he tries to get her to understand why she can’t go to the sea.

"Listen to me," he said and waited until her huge, dark eyes, wet with tears, met his own. "Bella, you have to heed my words. You cannot do things like this. The people will forgive small slips because they think you're from a distant land, but what you did today will be seen as wicked and unchristian. I've tried to explain to you how important that it is for you to conform to our religion, but you do not seem to understand how gravely serious this is. If they think you are a heretic, they will burn you, Bella. Do you understand? They will put you in a fire and burn you until you are dead."

What I love most about this story is that Lissa Bryan stays absolutely accurate to the time and the characters that played a part in England’s history. Some become alive as characters, others are mentioned only by name, but the amount of research that went into this story makes it that much more believable and completely enjoyable. Lissa Bryan also has endnotes at the bottom of practically all the chapters with historical notes. It helps more than I can say, because you want to be able to appreciate everything she has written. All the questions I had reading a chapter, she actually ended up answering, whether it was pronunciation or historical facts about a character.
The ending is absolutely a HEA, however there are some bumps and bruises to get there. Hang on during the last five chapters and chant HEA, HEA, HEA! Believe me it will be worth it! Lissa Bryan is a fantastic writer and such a great person. The Selkie Wife is my favorite of hers and she has quite the resume - Written in the Stars and Better Angels of our Nature… heard of them? Yeah, I thought so!

For anyone who shies away from period pieces… Jump head first into this fic and prepare to be transported to 1553 England and into the world where myths and legends really do come alive, to  a time where people refused to believe in the impossible. You won’t regret it. It’s truly a masterpiece!



Unplanned Perfection by Littlecat358
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6229263/1/
Bella and Alice were best friends, which made Bella the only girl off limits to Alice's brother Edward. When a party the summer after graduation gets out of control, Bella's world is turned upside down. "He doesn't know. I don't want him to." Twilight - Rated: M

Reviewed by: LaMomo

How many times does it happen to be able to review a story and use the author's own words?
Well, this time we can. Because Littlecat herself offered a new and improved version of the summary to the awesomeness that is Unplanned Perfection.
Here it goes:

"They fuck, she gets knocked up, she hides it, he finds out, they fight. They fight some more. They call a truce, he falls in love with them. There's drama and twists and bum love and climaxes. Lots of climaxes. There's psychotic chicks and crazy dudes. The end. And then a really big epi."

Of course, most of us have read this story and know that LC's new summary should be taken with a pinch of salt - even if the bare facts ARE there.
The story here is pretty much stripped down (!) to its minimum terms. The barest essentials. Twist it in any way you want - Bella likes Edward. Edward likes Bella. There's a drunken party and a drunken, totally unromantic fumble in the dark. He leaves.
She stays. That night has consequences that change her life both for worse (in the short term) and infinitely for the better (in the long run).
What happens when the Cullens come back to town after YEARS and a stunned Alice runs into a very reluctant Bella, with a bronze-haired, green-eyed little guy at her side?

The world goes topsy turvy for the whole lot of them. Yes, there are fights. Yes, there are discussions and misunderstanding. Years of bitterness and regret and mistrust, bottled up for too long, blow up in their faces.
But they have changed. Their priorities change. And change brings them together. There is a whole bunch of crazy. That draws them closer still.
And this is the "serious" part of the story.

The hot part of the story is, as we all know, that there is no sane, orderly, sensible universe where Bella doesn't want Edward. Where Edward doesn't want Bella. Despite everything. They fight each other - and that's a battle of wills, and they fight against each other - and that's a battle of lust.
The pull they feel will draw them closer and closer - for the wrong reasons first, and for the best reasons in the world later. Hottest lemons you'll ever read. After all, the author herself says "bum love". I personally think it was one of the hottest, most intense outtakes and bum love scenes I have ever read.

Of course, I might be biased...but again...who wouldn't be? There's no fighting it - a DocWard AND DaddyWard? It's a "you had me at hello" kind of deal.

Still there? Whatever for? Get to reading!!!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

TLS Fics of the Week 12/29/11 - 1/4/2012: The Fab Five reviews are UP HAPPY NEW YEAR!



A Drink with the Girls by Cara No
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7629457/1/A_Drink_with_the_Girls
This is Bella's story. She loves her life. It's very uncomplicated… until she falls in love with the man she has a very pleasurable arrangement with. Silly, 'cause they have no reason to worry.
 
Reviewed by Lisa A. Hollett

I have a dirty little secret to share that could get me kicked out of girl-hood altogether. Shhh…don’t tell anyone…*whispers*…I don’t really like Sex and the City. There, I’ve said it. I own my truth. Shun me if you must.

So when CaraNo put in the disclaimer of her newest fic that if you didn’t like SatC you may not like A Drink with the Girls, I was a little worried. But, as her beta of the three months, I owed it to her to do my job regardless. And, man, do I love my work!

I was wrong to be worried, even a little. Because for me, this story is nothing like SatC; it’s a CaraNo original, full of sass and sparkle and sex. Really good sex.

Seriously, I love my life.

I'll be twenty-five next week. I currently have two jobs that I love, I have good and loyal friends, I have the sexiest fuck-buddy that God ever created, I adore my apartment, and I have my own drink. What's not to love?

"I think Royce is cheating on me!" Rose blurts out.

Oy.

"Hold that thought," I say, putting up my index finger. "I just need to go to the bathroom first."
I hurry.

Once I'm there, I pull out my phone.

Do you have time tonight? I need it. ~Bella. 

It never takes long for him to answer, and my pussy is always ready for him.

For you? Absolutely, baby. I'll be home after ten. Spending the night? – Edward. 

Ungh.

If you don't mind. See you later ;) ~Bella. 

Bella works for a women’s magazine writing a relationship column. She shakes her head at her girlfriends’ perception of love, sex and marriage. They keep trying to find (and keep) “The One”. Meanwhile, she has the perfect arrangement with Edward: fuck-buddy, friend with benefits, personal sex god. They get together for one reason and one reason only. Pleasure.

Bella and Edward love the way things are between the two of them. They don’t get involved in each other’s lives, they don’t share friends. They just meet up when they need each other. Which, luckily for us, the readers, is often.

Our girls' night continue like it always does. We discuss, we gossip, we banter, we argue, we drink.

Then, when our night is over for this time, I hurry home to pack a bag.

I also "forget" to put on clothes after changing underwear.

My black trench coat will suffice just fine.

And the new pair of heels I bought yesterday.

Here I come, Edward.

If you have read any of CaraNo’s amazing previous or current work, you know that girl can write some hot, hot stuff! And this story is certainly no exception. She pitched it as having little to no angst and not a whole lot of plot, so it’s the perfect bit of fluff to brighten your day. I do a happy dance when new chapters arrive in my inbox.

Bella and Edward pride themselves on knowing as little of each other’s lives outside of the bedroom as possible. But their worlds start to collide when she accidentally meets one of his friends. And when she drunk dials him from her birthday party, he doesn’t have the strength to stay away. So he doesn’t.

His mouth is twitching a little, showing amusement. Same goes for his eyes. Yeah, he's amused, but there's something else, too. In my tipsy state, it's sorta hard to be sure. Could it be hesitation? Maybe. This is new, after all. He's here. At my birthday party. Where all my friends are gathered. Basically, he's entered my personal life.

It's been an unspoken rule for so long. No questions asked. No answers given.

I know I started this tonight. I was the one who called him, but Alice's question from last week is messing with my head. The question about if Edward and I would be perfect for each other in a relationship since we're so compatible in the bedroom.

A shiver runs through me when he dips down, all while sliding his hands from my hips to my waist.
His lips brush against my ear. "Happy birthday, beautiful."

I. Fucking. Melt.

Needing to actually steady myself, I grip his biceps, firm biceps. Christ, I'm cooked and done.

I breathe him in, accidently touching my lips to his neck. He tightens his hold on my waist, and when he slides his nose along my jaw, I'm pretty sure I whimper. Yeah, I did, 'cause he curses and presses our bodies together. Edward has a thing for my sounds, which is good since he's causing them.

I vaguely register the song change.

I drop an openmouthed kiss on his neck.

I feel his sharp exhale against my cheek.

"You okay with me being here?" he asks huskily, lips still attached to my skin. All I can do is nod, which I do. Quite furiously. I'm more than okay with him being here. "Good." Oh, God. I feel surrounded by him. "Dance with me, Bella?"

"Yes," I moan.

"Fuck, baby," he groans, and then his mouth covers mine.

Do yourself a favor and check out A Drink with the Girls. It’s a story that will make you smile, make you hot, and make you long for your own personal sex god (if you weren’t doing that already). Only six chapters are posted, so you can probably catch up before going out to get your own drink on for New Year’s Eve. CaraNo is a new mom (as of this writing, Kenzie is six days old!) so it may be a little while before the next chapter is posted, but I know once you read what she’s written so far, you’ll join those of us who are already panting for more.



Bear Valley Ranch by Lady Gwynedd
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6104633/1/Bear_Valley_Ranch 
A continuation of The Mail Order Bride, picking up Edward and Bella's life in the Colorado frontier as their fortunes, their family and their loves grew. 
 
Bear Valley Ranch is a continuation of the Mail Order Bride, so you need to read the Mail Order Bride first for the best story experience.
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5885420/1/The_Mail_Order_Bride

Bear Valley Ranch is a beautiful story with rich characters and authentic details.   It’s a historical fic set in the late 1800s with Edward and Bella who are happy, in love, and raising their family on their western cattle ranch.  Each chapter is about something new, with the the story building on previous events.
Lady Gwynedd does a great job of researching her historical information and making the story
an entertaining history lesson.
Edward in this story is sweet, protective, and confident as he forges a life for them in the Old West.  The Bella in this story is loving, smart, and brave.  It’s great to see Bella and some of the other women establish strong roles for themselves in spite of that period in history. Some of the characters are OCC and many will move you to tears with their victories and hardships.
Some of the OOC characters include people you might know from vintage TV Westerns, such as the beautiful Miss Kitty, who unexpectedly makes Bella feel jealous and insecure.  There will be drama!
One of the most moving parts of the story is when Carlisle learns a humbling lesson from the nearby Native Americans who try to save his life and open his eyes to the things that really matter.
The last three chapters of the story are outtakes for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and future and take the story 25 years forward from the beginning.
We are so fortunate to have Lady Gwynedd be part of this fandom and contribute these wonderful and entertaining historical fictions centered on Edward and Bella.

Review by Jedigirl SC



Insatiable Desires by ItzMegan73
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7534537/1/
What happens when the paths of two highly intelligent hypersexuals cross?

Review by: ManhattansSoWrite
______

Digging through the medical files stashed on her mother's desk, Bella discovers that Edward Cullen from her group therapy sessions is classified as a "sexual deviant" with "excessive hypersexual disorder," and she knows instantly that she has found her match. Unfortunately, she isn't sure which of the guys from the group is named Edward.

With a mix of humor and plenty of psychobabble from Renee, ItzMegan73 is weaving another great tale to keep readers checking their inboxes for updates on this work-in-progress. As the daughter of a psychiatrist who sacrificed their relationship for a career, Bella discovers sexual gratification at an early age; it's something Renee discovers when she finds her thirteen-year-old getting off with two teen boys in the bedroom closet.

By the time Bella is ready to start her senior year, she has been forced out of multiple schools due to the consequences of her voracious sexual appetite. As she discovers the mysterious Edward Cullen's records, she knows she needs to get ready to start a new high school and score herself a ride on Mr. Perfect.  Only when she arrives to class does she find that Cullen is the zit-faced jerk with a love of dying his hair black.

Wrong Edward had turned and changed course unexpectedly, and in a matter of footsteps, our paths would cross.

Suddenly, I was angry. I was angry at the effort I'd expended. I was angry at how stupid I looked asking after this freak. I was angry that I was not stuck at this backwards place for my last year of high school without a prospect in sight. But mostly I was angry at the fact that all of the plotting and planning and yearning for the Edward Cullen of my dreams had somehow distracted me and I hadn't had sex in almost three months!

As if he could feel the intense hatred rolling off me, Wrong Edward looked over at me fleetingly as he passed. When he saw my looking, he turned his head quickly and shook the curtain of hair back into place.

"He looks like he stinks," I muttered.

Jessica & Co. had moved on, confident in the fact that I hadn't arrived to infringe on their little po-dunk crushes.

And so there I stood, at the conclusion of my first week at Lincoln High, in much the same condition I'd arrived in: lost, looking and lonely.

Check out the story to see how these two eventually come together (three times in one night their first time in her bed), what struggles they've overcome beyond how to sneak out for typical teen parties (finding her G spot isn't one since Cullen discovers it quickly and masterfully), and why far too many professionals in the Forks medical community are all too eager to stick their noses in the sex life of these two teens. Will Bella's mother come to accept her arguments that girls should be able to enjoy sex as much as boys without the double standards and judgement?

No, it is imperative that she take the dirty, little societal stain, that in this case is me, and make it socially acceptable.

More importantly, will Bella start to see that maybe she really is dodging some issues with her flippant attitudes towards emotional connections?

His kisses communicated that that was all he wanted from me: just to give; to be close.

It was the first time I had ever experienced that: unconditional kissing – and I'd be lying if I said I didn't love it.

"Thank you…for tonight," Edward whispered as he smoothed my hair away from my face. I looked away from his intense gaze, not sure of what to do with his kindness.

"Yeah, well, just don't do something shitty and make me regret it," I chided him.

"No, I'm serious," he said firmly, seeing through my sarcasm. "I don't have a lot of people in my life that I can trust. It means a lot to me that you're going out on a limb for me. A lot of people wouldn't."

I averted my eyes from his and nodded. I didn't know what to do with his sincerity and gratitude, so I simply nodded and then I went back to kissing him. He seemed to understand what I was doing, because he didn't try to talk anymore.

Break out your Rabbits as you catch up with Bella and Edward's Insatiable Desires.


Mergers and Acquisitions by Touchstone67
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5654185/1/Mergers_and_Acquisitions
When Edward pays for a night of harmless fun, he didn't expect to get the purchase of a lifetime. Will his nights in Seattle change his whole life in Chicago? Full length story for the second place winner in the Slash/Backslash Contest. Rated M, J/E

Review by Mina Rivera
----------------------------
Mergers & Acquisitions was the first Jazzward slash WIP that I dived into. I had already finished reading a Jacob/Edward completed slash fic when I was pointed to this unique story.

For those who enjoy slash fics as much as I do, this fic is definitely a must read. It has some of the hottest lemons and not to mention there is actually a plot! The characters have depth and each one of them has a history that reveals itself with each chapter.

In this story Jasper is a prostitute. Yes, you read that right. He gets paid to have sex, either by men or women. He is the wet dream, the sex god, the sex machine, he is pretty good at it and he fucking knows it. He used to be in the street until he was scouted by Tanya, a Madame, for her high end customers.

"So, what do you think?" she smiled, turning to me. Looking out the window over the Seattle skyline, I saw the sun setting, the last rays of the day peeking out behind the clouds.
"It's great…."
"But?" she encouraged, knowing I was not finished.
"Seems a bit too good to be true," I finally said, still not looking at her, and shoving my hands deep into my pockets.
"Well, Jasper, I believe in treating my employees very well. They are my bread and butter so to speak, and should be treated respectfully."
The hardwood floors and beautiful view were more than 'respectfully'.
"That being said," she walked over to stand next to me, her hand on my arm forcing me to look at her. "If you do work for me, you will do as I say and go where I tell you to go. In return, I will treat you well, but there are conditions you must meet and follow."
Nodding, I remembered the so-called conditions she had told me at the coffee shop. My position required me to be at her beck and call six days, or rather nights, a week to entertain clients. This entertaining could be anything from dinner to spending the entire night with them. In turn, she would provide me with a cell phone, apartment, gym membership, a percentage of my intake and a car and driver.
"Oh, you will also have a credit card," she informed me, pulling out an American Express Gold Card. In awe, I stared at the card. I had only seen them on the sides of the buses that drove by me as I sat in car while some john had his lips around my cock. "For all work related expenses, such as condoms, clothing, dinners, lube…toys."
After almost spitting my coffee out, I quirked an eyebrow at her, "Excuse me?"
"Toys. Vibrators, dildos, bondage….toys."
I wasn't in fucking Kansas anymore.
"Are you still interested?" she asked, placing the card back in her wallet.
Fuck yes.

Then, there’s Edward, a successful man that justifies him being in the closet because of his job. He is afraid his sexuality will define his character and his career, not to mention that he is scared he’ll let down his family. It is a close friend, the only who knows he is gay, that leads him to a certain ‘service’ website.

Leaning across the small table, he rested on one elbow. "Ever thought about just telling the truth? This is no way to live, man."
"We've had this discussion, Emmett. Drop it, please." I pleaded, glancing around at nearby tables for eavesdroppers.
Sighing, he leaned back in his chair once more. "Alright, whatever you-," he stopped abruptly, a look of excitement crossing his face. That look always scared me.
"What?"
"I think I may have just the solution for you," he smiled, turning around to pull something out of his coat pocket. Turning back to me, he handed me a small white business card, in black writing it said 'Denali Escorts' with a telephone, fax, email and website address.
Escorts?
Like, escorts?
"Emmett, what is this?"
"Trust me, dude. They have something for all...preferences," he smirked proudly, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
Leaning across the table, I whispered fiercely, "Are you trying to tell me that I should get a hooker?"
"Not a hooker, an escort, there is a difference."
Why did people keep telling me that? 
"They both get paid for sex, where is there a difference?" I asked, still whispering.
He smiled again. "An escort can accompany you to any event, give you mind blowing sex, and fulfill all of your needs without risk of getting you sent to prison or endangering your health. Huge fucking difference."
"I can't believe you are...wait a minute, you keep their card in your pocket?" I asked incredulously.
"You never know when you will need to help out a friend," he gestured to me.
With a huff, I fell back against my chair, blocking out the sounds of other patrons and dishes clanking as I studied the card once again, considering Emmett's words.
He was right; I did need to get laid. Struggling to provide myself with one orgasm every three days was just not working out anymore. I could easily pay for the escort with my personal credit card, and no one would ever find out. In Seattle, I was miles away from home and anyone I knew. Even if someone from Lisoga spotted me, they would have no idea that my hired companion wasn't simply a friend.
"You're thinking about it, huh?" He inquired, nodding his head because he knew I was.
I shot a glance before looking back at the card. Then something dawned on me. "You've used them before?" I questioned.
"Just because I look this good doesn't mean I want just any skank from a local bar," he winked, lifting his beer bottle to his lips. After finishing, he said, "Seriously, dude, you deserve it. Fucking live a little, yeah?"
I nodded, not really sure how to reply before slipping the card into my wallet, laughing when I heard Emmett's enthusiastic 'yes'. Returning his fist bump, my mind was racing at top speed, running different scenarios of how my time in Seattle would be spent.
Live a little, indeed.

Jasper and Edward meet and there is an immediate attraction between the two of them. They both know what they are and how they are defined by society, but that won’t stop them from pursuing something much deeper than just physical release and companionship.

But this story is not only about Jasper and Edward.

We meet Peter, Jasper’s first client in his high end new job. He’s a practical business man who is an out and proud and feels no shame to be seen with Jasper in public. And we also meet Riley, Jasper’s fellow whore on the streets. Jasper describes him as a beautiful man with lots of potential and who knows exactly how to seduce you and who, unfortunately, is a slave of his vices.

All these characters are brought together by the same reason: sex.

Feelings will develop, friendships will get stronger, alliances will be created and you will never be able to see a piano, bed, elevator or a bar the same way again.

I encourage you to read this fic, even if you have never read slash before. I assure you won’t regret it. Touchstone67 is a fabulous writer and she will take for the ride of your life.

And once you are done with M&A, go check out the sequel: The Whore and The Gentleman, starring Peter and Riley. I personally cannot wit to read more of this sequel, I have a thing for Toushstone67’s Riley… you will see why once you read M&A.

Happy New Year! Until next time, xoxoxox

~Mina

----------


The Single Game by Awesomesauce76
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7628327/1/The_Single_Game
New girl Bella Swan is finally ready to start dating again, but the only boy she's interested in is too shy to even talk to her. Why are her friends convinced that the answer to her problem is some crazy party game… with kissing? AU/AH, BPOV
 
Reviewed by SusanQ

I love a high school story and I love a story with a sweet Edward, so The Single Game already has the perfect hook; but add to that the premise that new-girl Bella is looking for some sexy-times and said sexy-times are going to be written by Last Tango in Forks author, AwesomeSauce76, and you’re looking at the ultimate fanfic trifecta!

Our story begins when Bella moves to Forks for a change of scenery. She can’t get away from her former friends and boyfriend soon enough and she really doesn’t miss Phoenix, but she does miss sex.

Two months in and Bella confides in her best friend, Alice that she’s ready to begin dating.

"Well… when I was with my ex—"

"Riley?" Alice knew I had broken up with someone before I moved, but not all the gory details.

"Yeah." I grimaced at the sound of his name. "Anyway, we used to… a lot.
And while I don't miss him, I miss sharing that with someone."

"So you're horny," she said, nodding in understanding.

"Not just that," I laughed, shaking my head at her directness. "Yes, I miss it… but I've never been one to sleep around and I haven't really noticed any good boyfriend prospects so far."

"So you miss playing Slap & Tickle, but there's nobody here you wanna play Slap & Tickle with, is that right?"

"Exactly."

"But Bella, there are a lot of cute single guys here. I bet you could have any of them you wanted."

"I don't know about all that, but I do know that I've been so gun-shy about dating again that I haven't really paid any attention to anyone. Now that I think I might be ready to try again, I have no idea where to start."

"Ooh!" she gasped, ripping a sheet of paper out of her notebook. "Let's make a list!"

And make a list they do. No jocks, no smarmy guys, no manwhores…

I watched as she thought for a moment and wrote Eager virgin ready for training in the left column.

"Nicely put," I chuckled.

"I thought so," she smiled brightly. "Anything else?"

"Yeah…" I tapped my chin in thought. "Maybe a little shy. No more cocky jerks."

Enter shy, eager-virgin-ready-for-training, lab partner, Edward. The problem is Edward doesn’t seem to give Bella the time of day. He never talks around her; she mistakes his shyness for disinterest. In fact, she’s pretty sure he thinks she’s annoying.

"Why doesn't Edward ever say anything?"

"Who, Cullen?" She looked at me like I was crazy. "What do you mean? He talks."

"No, I know he can talk, what I want to know is why he chooses not to."

"Bella, I honestly don't know what you're talking about. There are times we can't get that boy to shut up."

"Bullshit," I blurt out bluntly.

"No, really. Don't ever get him and Emmett talking about fucking video games or computers; I swear to God, they never stop. Then Jasper will go and bring up some dumb shit like Start Wars or Lord of the Rings, and then it starts all over again."

"Then why the hell won't he ever talk to me?"

"He doesn't? I thought I saw you two talking last night at practice."

"No. What you saw was me talking and him blowing me off."

Alice realizes that Edward can’t talk to Bella because he like likes her, and she does her best to convince Bella.

Alice, Rosalie and Emmett come up with a plan to get the two together by playing (and fixing) “The Single Game”—a spin-the-bottle like game that matches up single guys and girls—at Emmett’s party in his basement. Edward and Bella get the slip of paper with “Seven Minutes in Heaven” and spend those seven minutes getting to know each other better in the privacy of a storage closet.

"Don't be afraid to kiss me back," I spoke against his soft flesh. "I want you to."

"I'm sorry," he groaned between small kisses. "I'm just… so fucking turned on right now… I can't think straight!"

"Good!" I gasped around his mouth. "You think too much. Just go with it!" I flicked the tip of my tongue over his lips and he shuddered against me, growling low in his chest before opening up to me. He slowly stroked his tongue across mine, feeling the slick textures rubbing against each other for the first time.

By the loud moan he sent into my mouth, followed by the way he urgently shoved me back into the shelves… I'm going to guess that he liked it.

Eager, right? This story is off to a great start. The chapters are short and it updates frequently. I’m looking forward to Bella teaching her enthusiastic student, and she will be in excellent hands with AwesomeSauce76 doing the lesson plans.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

TLS Fics of the Week 12/22 - 12/28/2011

Here are the fab five fics, that moved us the most this week. Don't miss these great stories. There is something here for everyone. From all of us at The Lemonade Stand, we wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and a Happy New Year to all of you!

Happy Holidays, Love TLS



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


Reviewed by: EvilNat

Cliché begins with Bella spending her Christmas break visiting her mother, Phil and her new step sister Rosalie.  Tired of being invisible, she enlists Rose to help make her over.  She has a mission to be noticed especially by Edward Cullen.

In a place far, far away lived a beautiful…oh, forget it. Who are we really kidding here? This is Hell. This is high school. Welcome to Forks.

I make my way through the crowd, bumping shoulders, seemingly invisible. How does one remain invisible in a school where she's attended all four years? In a town, where she grew up visiting every summer before that and played with most of these kids since we were toddlers? Well, this is my story and how I decided on the last day before Christmas break in my senior year that I would no longer be invisible.

After the break, Rosalie comes to live with Charlie and Bella in Forks; she helps Bella come out of her shell.  Her maturity and friendship help Bella survive her rising popularity.

"Remember, confidence is projected in different ways. It's not always about the words. Most of it's about the body language. She pulls into the far side of the lot between two vacant spots and parks at an angle taking up two of the three. She quickly turns toward me, a sympathetic smile on her face. "You can do this, Bella. You're better than you think you are and you're definitely better than they think you are." She cuts the engine and pulls the key. "Let's go prove it to them." With that, she gets out of the car.

I take a final deep breath and get out too, meeting her at the back of the car and we start to walk. I feel every eye on us, the pressure making my cheeks heat even though it's in the forties this morning. As we approach the sidewalk leading to the main front doors, Emmett steps forward.

"If I could have a moment of your time, I'd like to officially welcome you to Forks. Talk of your beauty and your car precede you. I'm Emmett McCarty."

Rosalie barely smiles, apparently not amused by the jock brigade greeting. She plays it like this is an old stunt she's heard a million times, but she's still polite. "Rosalie Hale. I'm new here."

"I would say so. And who is this pretty friend of yours?" he asks just as I see Edward walking up the stairs a few feet away.

We make eye contact but I drop mine quickly, all those old feelings for him rushing forward, the butterflies fluttering about, and my temperature instantly rising.

"Emmett, why surely you know Bella Swan?" Rosalie references back to me and smiles.

Emmett does a double take as Mike Newton comes in for a closer look and exclaims, "Holy shit! It's bird girl!"

Rosalie instantly steps forward, moving close to Newton's ear, a hand to his collar pulling him down towards her, and with a plastered smile and in a whispered tone, she says, "Don't ever call her that again or you will be eating your balls for breakfast. Do you understand me?"

"Yes," he gulps as she releases his collar, straightening it for him then turns back to Emmett.

"It was nice to meet you, Emmett. I'll be seeing you around I suspect."

"Your suspicions are correct," he says smugly.

The popular crowd in Forks High have a code.  A game where each boy can pick a girl to pursue, and when they are done the next in line is allowed to go after her.  If the girl chooses not to participate then they are out of the game and the boys move on.  Their pecking order is clear and they have an unspoken rule between them not to step out of line.

"These boys are trickier than I gave them credit for." She slides off the end of the bed and sits across from me on the floor so we're eye-level. "There's a code, a bond or something. They all play by a certain set of rules. They tag a girl and the others lay off of her. I must admit that it's quite organized and somewhat civilized for a group of high-schoolers."

"You got all that from one day at school? I'm impressed, Rose. That makes total sense too because Edward told me that he was my best bet."

"Yep, it's that damn code." She looks puzzled. "The problem is do they mark you and the others back off or do you have a say in the matter?" It's rhetorical, I can tell by how hard she's focusing on the ceiling, on solving this mystery.

The code thing whether it's a friend code or a team code or whatever surprises me though. It sounds civilized on the surface but it's really quite insulting that they get to tag you as theirs, verbally claim you in that way.

Edward doesn’t want to be part of the game anymore.  He likes Bella and had planned on making a move after the Christmas break.

I dig out my freshman, sophomore, and junior year yearbooks and crawl onto my bed. I flip open my ninth grade book and scan my finger across the pages until I find the S's. Saburn, Scott, Smith, Swan. Isabella Swan - brown hair, a little messy for picture day, headband, heavy looking sweater, and no make-up. She's cute. She doesn't stand out on the page and probably didn't back then. I don't remember much of her that year. I wonder if we had any classes together.

Tenth grade – the glossary says page eighty-seven and one-nineteen. I look at her school photo first. That might be the same headband from the previous year. It's hard to tell. She's wearing another bulky, too big for her sweater and a turtleneck. She's nothing if not practical for Forks weather. Her face seems similar – a late bloomer for sure, but cute. Page one-nineteen reveals she joined the yearbook staff. This is the book that has an abundance of pictures of me in it ironically. I think there were thirty-seven if I remember correctly. I shut this one and toss it aside.

In last year's book, I can see the girl she's become. Her hair is smooth with soft waves, she still doesn't have any make-up on, but she doesn't need it. Her eyes capture me, draw me in. They're brown. I know that just from seeing her at school, but the flash of the camera highlights something else in them, maybe gold, maybe green.

Edward’s only problem is it’s not his ‘turn’ to pick and since she’s come back from the break looking different and a lot hotter, Liam who is next in line, has set his sights on Bella for himself.

Edward also likes to bake pies when he’s down and needs to think which I really love, it’s just so anti-canon but it makes him even cuter.

I stop at the store and get the ingredients I know we need to make pumpkin pie. When I set it down in the kitchen, my mom looks at the bag and questions, "Pie?"

I hop on the counter, my shoulders drooping, feeling tired. "Yeah, I thought we could make it together."

She smiles at me and makes me feel like a kid and safe, comforted again. "We just had pumpkin at Thanksgiving. You sure you want this kind?"

"It's one of my favorites."

"Alright, the pie plates are in the cabinet behind your feet. Grab one out and help me make the crust."

As soon as the oven door closes, the two pies safely baking inside, she leans against the counter and asks, "You want to talk about it?"

She knows me too well. I should have gone for cake or cookies. Pie is my tell, my giveaway.

Will Edward and Bella get together, or will they let the weight of the ‘game’ get to them?

Suzie55 writes a witty, cute story about the pressures of high school.  It is relatively low in drama and very swoony when Edward and Bella hook up.  There are some great ‘villains’ and it is extremely entertaining.

Check it out!

Nat  xx



Footprints in the Snow by Cosmogirl7481
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7610974/1/Footprints_in_the_Snow
"An hour from now, when the snow falls again, it will be like we weren't even there. But we will remember." A story of unrequited love, and how the things we keep silent can hurt us and the ones we hold closest. E/B Rated M for themes of an adult nature. Twilight-Rated:M
 
Reviewed by: Jaime Arkin

This was important.

 These people were important.

And no matter what happened – where we all went or what we all did – these people would always be my family. Always.

Alice, Rosalie, Jasper, Emmett and Edward. Maybe the same blood didn't run through our veins, but they were more important than any blood. Like I said, they were my family.

Its no secret by now that I have a ginormous crush on the lovely cosmogirl7481.  She's written some of my favorite stories out there...filled with emotion, enchanting characters, hot, sexy citrus and believable plots.  Footprints in the Snow is no exception.  I'm incredibly lucky enough to get to be a pre-reader for her and I was immediately drawn into this story of unrequited love.

When we first meet Bella, she’s on her way to meet up with her family at their house in the mountains, where the kids spend the five days before Christmas together.  cosmo fills us in on their history and how this mix of kids became a big family through her memories –

I met them all the first year I was placed in the group home after Charlie and Renee died. With no living grandparents or other family members to take me in, I became a ward of the state of Washington. It's still hard to think about it that way, but that's exactly what I was. I didn't belong to anyone. Not even myself. I had no possessions to speak of. Just the sad brown backpack filled with the few clothes I'd packed before they took me from my home. Two pairs of jeans and three shirts.

From the first chapter we are shown how important Bella’s family is to her, having lost her parents and thinking that you are absolutely alone in the world makes her cherish her new family even more, not willing to share them with anyone else in her life, even someone who’s become important in her life.   

You immediately know that there is something between Edward and Bella, a history that is alluded to but not mentioned, but we don’t know the circumstances surrounding what it is or even the why, instead cosmo gives us readers a little bit more information with each and every chapter she posts.  We know Bella has someone in her life, but she keeps him at an arms length.  We find out why quickly in the second chapter.

The house was quiet. There were no sounds except for the occasional creak in the old floors. And I rolled over on my side and turned out the light on the nightstand. I breathed in deeply, allowing the chilled air to fill my lungs. And I pulled the quilts and blankets up around my neck and closed my eyes.


And that's when I felt it.


 Felt him.


 The air was cold on my back as he slid in bed beside me. But his body was immediately warm as he pressed up against the entire length of my own. His hands slid under the hem of my t-shirt, and as he rubbed my skin, he pressed his face against my neck, breathing in deeply.


My heart was pounding, and I wondered if he could feel it.


 "I wondered when you would come," I whispered into the dark.


 He pushed my hair back, running his nose up and along the shell of my ear. And then, soft and wet, he sucked the skin on my neck, while his hand slipped inside my panties…finding me…touching me.


 "I always come, Bella," he whispered. "Every year."


 Did I mention that Cosmo writes some of the hottest lemons around?

"Does it feel good?" he whispered, as he spread me open with his fingers.


 I could only nod my head because I knew if I tried to speak, it would be a moan. It would be loud and wanting. And in the silence of the house, I knew I couldn't allow it. Words didn't matter because I knew he could feel just how much I loved what he was doing. How much I wanted it.
How much I needed it.


 "You feel so good," he whispered again. "So wet for me…so, so…always so fucking tight."


 He continued to stroke me, his voice and breath all soft in my ear. I wanted to turn in his arms. I wanted to feel his mouth over mine. I wanted to taste him…to suck his skin…his tongue…his cock. But I let him hold me – let him take me wherever he thought I should go. At his pace. In his own way. Because in his arms, and under his hands, I knew I was safe. Knew I was protected. And even though it wasn't the way that I'd secretly always wanted…I knew I was loved.


 As if he could sense what I needed, he rolled me onto my back. He pushed my hands over my head, taking my shirt off slowly. And then he covered me – his naked skin on my skin – with the blankets falling heavy, over and around us. My hands wrapped around his neck, needing him closer than he was. But he held back for just a moment – looking in my eyes.


 His breath was labored and sweet. Just like everything about this stolen moment. And he reached up with one hand, cupping my face and stroking my cheek with his thumb.


 "What do you want?" he whispered. It sounded loud to my ears, as it bounced and reverberated off the cocoon of the covers.



 Finding my voice for the first time since I'd felt him in my bed, I gave him the only truth I was capable of saying out loud. "Whatever you want to give me."


 We find out that the secret hook-ups have been going on for eight years, every Christmas.  It’s heart wrenching to know how Bella feels about Edward, thinking he doesn’t return her feelings.  Her fear of causing awkwardness and discomfort for the rest of the family and their attempt to keep what was going on around them a secret weighs heavily on her, but she isn’t strong enough to give him up, to lose what little bit she can have of him.  This story is a testament to opening up and having a conversation, because as the story progresses, we learn so much about these two that simply could have been resolved if they hadn’t hidden their feelings and tried to play things cool, simply assuming they knew what the other wanted or needed.

I’m not going to give away too much more here, in fact, the chapters are short and the story should be complete around Christmas or shortly after so you must go give it a read.  I for one will miss the threads and texts filled with flails and the opportunity to talk my friends down off the ledge when cosmogirl7481 posts her updates.  Please go check out Footprints in the Snow and leave this incredible author some love.



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
 
Reviewed by: La Momo

Basic rundown: take the usual suspect and dump them in Loveladies, on the Jersey Shore. Edward is bartender, B&B and restaurant owner, and caterer. All this, split 50/50 with his handsome brother James.
Bella is in Loveladies because her "aunt" just died. Her very old, very rich, very philantropic aunt. The very aunt that helped Bella recover from a quasi deathly car crash, where she lost her parents and her memory.
And now she deals with another loss. Her aunt.
Picking up the pieces and trying to make them fall into place is not an easy task, especially when you remember jack with a side of squat about WHO you were BEFORE. Bella, along with Rosalie (her physical trainer and now her friend), do run into Edward at Last Call (the bar he owns), but Edward doesn't want anything to do with Bella, even if he remembers her drink of choice (Shirley Temple) down to the number of cherries. Might be because his days as a cabanaboy at the local country club were plagued by Bella's teenage bitchy behaviour and by her snotty parents?
Instead, the one who's interested in her is James. And of course, add to the mix that Edward can't stop thinking about her (despite the former bitchiness) but he currently has….a significant other (Tori, hair stylist on a mission).
Take all this, put it in a shaker, add some ice, two very intriguing narrators (Bella and Edward herself), shake it well, and you have the little gem that is Last Call.

I might be very inappropriately biased towards this story because I get to beta it. And I will never thank Suebee (the Beta Fairy) enough for asking me to take over when her schedule became overloaded with RL committments. First of all, because this beta'ing gig gave me as a collateral the immense gift of RC's friendship. She is an amazing person. Second, because I get to beta this story. Main reasons why you should drop everything and read? Follow at your own risk, you may develop an addiction….

The first piece of advice that aspiring writers get every day on god's green earth is "write about something you know", because research can only get you this far, and ultimately, it's feelings, not data, that you want to convey. And to do that, you need to know a place, a situation, or a person, in a very intimate way - its ins and outs, its quirks, upsides and flip sides. And if you do know that place, it shines through when you write.

This is one of the first things that strike you about Last Call. Our very own RC knows the Jersey Shore (the real, not the trashy one) and it shows in here. The rhythm of seasons, the set of people prowling the shore, the invisible social divides….between guests and a cabanaboy at a country club.
Second piece of advice you get is "find a voice" - each character is a real person, and should have a distinctive voice, just as each of us has in real life. We don't use the same set of phrases, the same vocabulary, the same metaphors, the same structures. And this, too, shines through in RC's writing.
Third, her writing and vocabulary are really articulate. Her descriptions, her adjectives and her phrases are quirky, funny, to the point, and just so refreshing. None of the "fic pet peeves" or syntax clogged by too many "you know's". And this is even BEFORE I get to work on them.
RC's writing is for real, and she has a clear image in her mind of where she wants to take this. And this, too, shines through. Page after page, she's laying the foundation of a layered, complex storyline, where two strong-willed people with strong feelings will be confronted by their own demons, uncertainties, and ill-hidden desires, as one of them learns everything from scratch, and the other needs to unlearn everything from scratch, because the former knows nothing and the latter…knows nothing right.

Follow them on their journey, and now shout up…I have a chapter to beta :)



My Beautiful Storm by Troublefollows1017
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7601746/1/My_Beautiful_Storm
Weather-obsessed Bella finds Edward's journal, leading her on a trip down memory lane. Back then, Edward had run away, hoping to find a new purpose. Bella couldn't wait for her chance to escape, sure she knew what she wanted. Neither one expected this. Twilight - Rated: M
 
Reviewed by: Onebravelamb Fanfic

Isabella,
When I met you, I never imagined the impact you would have on my life. I didn't even really like you the first time we spoke. You were definitely not part of my big plan. I was running away. I was going to find my true happiness. What I didn't know was I found it that day at the beach. Hiding behind the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen and a know-it-all attitude was the person with whom I will spend the rest of my life.

---

I know, right? How completely adorable and gut-wrenchingly sweet is that?

That, my dears, would be troublefollows1017’s newest Edward. Well, it’s a letter he wrote to his Bella that she finds in a journal hidden under their bed.

Naughty, Bella. Such an invasion of privacy.

The story follows our favorite duo from the first time they meet, by way of Edward’s journal  and Bella’s memories spurred on by each entry. It’s a lovely way to glimpse into their past from both perspectives.

Bella, it seems, is an outcast. She has a fascination with weather and meteorology; she’s constantly spouting off random tidbits of information, much to the people who surround her chagrin. My guess is, being that they’re all high school students, they don’t see this as a defense mechanism, as a way to try and divert the attention off of herself.

They just think she’s weird.

But Bella doesn’t really seem to care, she thinks her fellow classmates are imbeciles anyway. She can’t wait to finish her high school career and leave Forks and all of its small-minded occupants behind.

Enter Edward, whom appears to be your quintessential jock at first glance.

Needless to say, it’s not a case of love at first sight.

---

"Were you trying to throw the ball at us or do you just have really bad aim?" I asked, ignoring his pretty face and his bright green eyes and his chiseled jaw and his tanned chest.

"I overshot it a little, I guess, but you have to admit that was a pretty amazing catch," he replied with some weird lopsided grin.

No apology. Nice.

"A little? More like a lot."

"If it had been off by a lot then Emmett wouldn't have been able to catch it. So, it must have been only off by a little."

"It was off by a lot."

"A little." He crossed his arms across his chest, making his forearms look really, really big.

"A lot," I continued to argue because the size of his arms was not going to distract me from being right.

Emmett decided to intervene."Bella, this is Edward, Rosalie's cousin. He moved in with the Cullens this summer kind of like I moved in with you last year. Edward, this is Bella Swan, my cousin." Em smiled brightly. "Hey, if Rose and I get married someday will that make you guys cousins?" His boisterous laughter did nothing to improve my mood.

"I hope not," Edward and I both mumbled at the same time. We then both arched a brow at the other. Good to know neither one of us wished to be related.

"Sorry for the sand shower. We'll try to stay on our side of the beach from now on. I promise."

"We absolutely promise. Wouldn't want to cause that stick to go any further up your ass. That could be painful," Edward said as the two of them jogged away. "Pleasure to meet you, Bella and her friend no one introduced me to!" He playfully punched at Emmett, who punched back, causing Edward to stumble a couple steps.

---

But there’s more to Edward than meets the eye, though even now at four chapters in, we’re all still wondering what makes up his past. The things we have learned so far are as follows: Edward was homeschooled until his senior year. His father had an obsession over his hands and keeping them safe. His father is a control freak. Edward plays the piano and has never been free to live his life as he wished.

He also claims to be able to predict the weather by simply feeling it in the air.

You can’t imagine how insane that makes Bella.

But it’s cute, because it’s obvious that Edward likes to ruffle Bella’s feathers and after spending a little time with the handsome boy with a questionable past, she doesn’t mind it so much when he does. In fact, it seems like she kind of likes it, even if it makes no sense to her whatsoever.

As I stated before, we’re four chapters into this incredible story and already these characters own me. Bella is snarky and odd, but incredibly endearing and Edward, well, he’s Edward. He’s sweet, charming and more than a little dorky himself. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to just reach into the story and pinch his cheeks.

Yes, he’s that adorable.

Only time will tell what’s in store for these two sweethearts, but I can tell you that I’m literally waiting on the edge of my seat for each update. Being the incredible author she is, troublefollows1017 has a set updating schedule and MBS hits inboxes each Friday. Much like her other incredible story, Fridays at Noon, used to.

I’ll leave you with a snippet from the latest update to whet your appetite.

---

8/26/2010
Positive - Bella met me at my locker this morning and walked with me to first period. Negative - I will be devastated if she doesn't do it every day now.

8/30/2010
Bella is so funny. She probably makes me laugh a hundred times a day. But I have to admit, I love it more when I make her laugh. She has this really cute giggle. Using the word cute probably makes me sound so lame, I know, but it is what it is. She's so damn adorable.

9/13/2010
I'm pissed. Today is Bella's birthday, but no one told me until lunch, which is like halfway through the fucking day! I said, "I didn't know it was your birthday." She said, "Of course you didn't. Why would you?" I said, "I don't know. It just seems like something I should have known." She looked at me like I was a moron because obviously I am. I wished her a happy birthday because what else do you say to the girl you have a huge ass crush on when it's her birthday and you had no idea until it was too late to do something cool and interesting? She smiled. I'll take the smile.

9/18/2010
Bella grabbed my arm today in physics. It was to stop me from writing something down, but still. She touched me. On purpose. Cue the dirty thoughts right there in class. What I wouldn't give for her to touch me on purpose for other reasons. I swear this girl has no idea what she does to me on a daily basis. I mean, I can tell she likes me. She smiles when I smile. She includes me when we're around her friends. It makes us friends, which is cool, but I don't usually have dirty thoughts about my friends. I have lots of dirty thoughts about Bella. A LOT.

9/20/2010
I hate PE. My lack of experience in this area is becoming embarrassingly obvious. I've considered having Uncle Carlisle to write me a note excusing me from it because I think he totally would if I asked him. Hell, my dad would probably send me a damn note if I told him about the things they make me do with my hands in that damn class. But I keep thinking if I miss PE, I'd miss out on seeing Bella in those tiny shorts they make the girls wear. Those legs, that cute little butt are so worth the potential humiliation. Hello, dirty thoughts. Welcome back. Yeah, I think I'll stay in PE.

9/23/2010
BEST DAY EVER. I've had a few moments in my life that stand out as major life moments. Moments that blow me away. Moments that I know I'll never forget because they affected me so deeply. Today, I had one of those moments. Today, Bella took me to play in the rain and I had the best time of my life. The whole thing was fun and crazy and something I never would have been able to do three months ago. But it wouldn't have been half as fun without Bella. Playing in the rain makes me think I have fallen hard for this girl. HARD. Today will be the day dirty thoughts take on a whole new meaning for me.

---

What are you waiting for? Go devour troublefollows1017’s words like I do and bask in the beautiful storm we’re all watching unfurl.

You won’t be sorry.

xo-

OBL



String Theory by theladyingrey42
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7589412/1/String_Theory
"Eleven dimensions. Infinite parallel realities. And in all of them, I love her." Muppets, math, and physicists falling in love. Fluff and eventual lemons. ExB, AH. Twilight - Rated: M
 
Reviewed by: DiamondHeart78

Everyone knows my love of all Geekwards. When theladyingrey started posting her semi-short, daily updates featuring a super-sweet but sexy Edward (in glasses, once again. You KNOW how much I love my Edwards in glasses), I knew I would get stuck on the story like white on rice.

Theladyingrey is the kind of author who can write just about anything, and if you’ve read Our Lives Unbound and Love Amongst the Ruins, then you know she can go from angst to humor quite seamlessly. String Theory, although lighter in atmosphere, still retains a little of the uncertainty of life and love, which is the reason her readers keep reading.

Edward, a graduate student, spends most of his time at work pining over the equally (if not more) intelligent graduate student Bella Swan. Since it’s told in EPOV, Bella, seen through his eyes, is perfection in everything she does. The truth is she’s probably just as insecure and lonely as he feels. Edward’s crush is endearing, human and it makes you want to just hug him.

When he finally literally bumps into her for his perfectly schedule coffee break and introductory words are exchanged, we cheer for him. She’s sweet and charming and sparks fly rather quickly.

I found myself cheering for him quite a bit. Who wouldn’t cheer for the unlikely hero who happens to actually have some game? Boy’s got skills, making him the hot nerd of my fantasies. When the two finally go on their much talked-about date to get her disabled father out of the house, I’ve got my cheerleading outfit on, complete with pom poms.

And about halfway through the movie, I get a present of my own. While our hands have been joined all this time, as Kermit and Miss Piggy go on a romantic walk through the streets of Paris, I feel Bella shifting and leaning closer to me. At the same time, her thumb starts tracing out little arcs on the back of my hand.

My whole body takes notice. This is different. New.

This isn't the touch of a friend. It's more intimate than that. It's the touch of a…

I swallow hard.

Of a lover.

And that sparks a whole series of scenes in my head that have absolutely no business in a family film.

The world goes soft and dream-like, awash in a wave of desire so powerful it hurts, as I force myself to loosen up and touch her back. With gentle caresses, I feel her smooth skin beneath my fingertips. Beside me, she takes a deep, shivering breath.

Charlie coughs.

But neither of us pay him any mind.

The rest of the movie plays out in two parallel dramas – the one happening on the screen and the one happening right here in this seat. The one that's happening to me. My hand learns hers and she learns mine. By the time the closing number starts – a reprise of the same happy song from the beginning of the movie – I think I could recognize her by the shape of her knuckles alone.

This is where you hear the collective “aww” from the readers who I’m sure are totally rooting for Edward and Bella and their simple connection that has so much meaning.

Their relationship evolves to where it is at the moment, where they’re on another official date, sans parent and after a long week of studies, care-taking, and trips home to see family. They deal with the realities of graduate student life (endless studying, grading, and thesis prep) as well as the common fears and insecurities of going too fast or too slow in a new relationship.

Luckily, her daily updates are just long enough to make impatient readers happy and spoiled, so you won’t have to wait too long for your next Geekward fix. You’ll be rooting for him with me in my reserved cheering section too.
Pom poms optional. ;)
-DH78
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