New Fic of the Week: 8/6/12

The Heist by KreativeKreature

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8348430/1/The_Heist

Review by Twilly

Rating: M
Genre: Crime/Romance
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: Have you ever felt like every event in your life is out of your control? Like it's all a lie? Hoax? Sham? "I'm no one, and pretty soon… you will be too." Welcome to The Heist.

The Heist is great, and it’s only three…wait, did it update already? Okay, four chapters in, so go read it .

There. Review done. Easiest review I ever wrote. I totally wrote that in like thirty seconds. I’m on fire.

What do you mean why? Because I told you to!

What? That’s not good enough? When did I lose my authority?

I never had any authority? Really? You mean I’m not the boss, I’m just bossy? Where’s the whiteout? I need to take “Fanfiction Boss” off my resume.

Fine, here’s why you should read it.

This Edward is different. Down on his luck, he stumbles into a convenience store and a chain of events that have him confused and scared for his life. A pretty brunette forces him at gunpoint into her car and on one little high-speed chase and the boy loses his shit.

Speaking of pretty brunettes, this Bella is dangerous. She’s a no holds barred, take no prisoners, shooting automatic weapons with both hands badass. Well, except she did take Edward prisoner; but come on, who among us wouldn’t take Edward hostage? Except she’s not holding Edward as her personal love monkey like some of us…I mean some of you all would. She has orders.

At this point, I’m not really sure what Bella’s motivation or intentions are and I really can’t tell if she’s a good guy, bad guy, or a good guy pretending to be a bad guy. I can’t wait to find out.

The Heist literally has me on the edge of me seat for the entire chapter. You all know me, I’m jumpy, it’s dangerous for me to sit there! I can’t help it; I need to know what’s going on. I need to know why Edward Masen has to cease to exist. I need to know what’s up with Bella and who all these people are in The Grotto and what they want with Edward. And I need to know who the blond man Bella shot in the convenience store was.

Come read The Heist with me. We’ll bite our nails together; we can call it The Heist manicure.

Banner by Twilly

WIP of the Week: 8/6/12

Downward Spiral by Content1

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7710478/1/Downward_Spiral

Review by AngelycDevil

Rating: M
Genre: Horror/Angst
Characters: Edward/Bella

Summary: Post-BD EU. Captured by the Volturi, Edward faces a nightmarish choice as Aro enacts a diabolical plan to break him. As Edward's hold on his sanity weakens, only his memories of Bella help him stay strong as he faces the ultimate test. Mentalward Winner

Before you begin reading my review, let me ask you one thing: Have you ever read a work of fiction that you can’t describe? One where even though, you’ve somehow managed to wrap your head around the story but you can’t bring yourself to convoy the complex plot or the depth of the emotions that ensnarl the characters because you know that you can’t do it justice, so you simply say, “Just read it” before imparting the very basic scenario and plot line of the work to your friend and then changing the subject?

That is exactly what I was feeling minutes ago. Minutes ago, I was sitting in living room, staring at a blank page, frustrated at myself for signing up to review this fic (that’s a compliment!) because I’d just realized that there is no way that I can even begin to explain this bewitching piece of fiction. But I’m going to try because I want to share this wonderful writing with as many people as I can.

Downward Spiral began as an entry for a Mentalward contest by Crmcneill eventually became the first two chapters. Sadly, Crmcneill was unable to continue his work which is where Content1 swoops in and saves the story! As you can see from the banner above and the fact that it was an entry to a Mentalward contest, this is story does not feature our sane, kind, loving Edward. Instead, this portrayal of Edward is dark, twisted, impulsive, and well, in a word…a monster.

He had succeeded. He had broken me. But not in the manner he expected. 

The monster attacked the moment they entered my cell. Felix's arm was torn off at the elbow before he could blink. The monster threw him aside and lunged for the door. Jane's gift immobilized him with pain, but even then he thrashed about in frenzy. Alec blinded and numbed, but his gift only worked on physical senses. Using the sight of the Volturi guards for perspective, still he attacked. When sight and sound returned, he was pinned to the wall by four massive guards, snarling ferociously; the guards' arms and faces marked by bites and gouges inflicted by the monster's blind rage.

And that is why, to this day, I cannot understand why I started reading this, why I couldn’t put it down, and why I keep coming back for more. Maybe I’m crazy. Or maybe Content1 does a fantastic job of roping us in, making our eyes widen, forcing our hearts to beat faster and faster until we get addicted to MentalWard before giving us a happily ever after…but wait, it’s not over yet!

"And I will not forget this either, Aro!" Carlisle roared into the phone. "This is my warning to you; the Cullen family no longer recognizes the legal or moral authority of the Volturi, who have imprisoned and tortured one of our members without cause. Any member of the Volturi or its Guard found in our territory will be considered hostile, and attacked on sight. In addition, we will be informing our friends and allies of the treatment Edward received at your hands. I'm sure they will all be quite interested to hear this particular story." 

He paused for a moment before continuing. "Out of respect for our former friendship, I offer you this advice. If you intend to send any of your puppets against us, make sure to supply them with a properly labeled urn, so that their remains may be returned to you as expeditiously as possible. This conversation is over."

This is the part when I realized that this wasn’t going to end with the traditional happily ever after. Too much had been done. Too much pain. Too much loss. The Volturi has gone too far. The Volturi underestimated the Cullens, stretched them to the limit, and pushed them over the edge. The Volturi underestimated the bond of the Cullen family, their control because even though they feed from animals, they’re still vampires.

I realized that there will be more blood, more suffering, pain, loss, heartache.

I wanted to bask in the light of this long forgotten emotion, but it terrified me. I had been so long in the darkness, and painful experience had taught me to fear stepping into the light. I feared the horror that I knew waited to snatch me up if I let my guard down, even for a moment. I began to withdraw, shutting down, welcoming the darkness, but held onto the hand clutching mine with all my might.

I realized there will be a revolution.

Henceforth, my coven does not recognize the dictates of the lawless and faithless. We will continue to follow the rules that have served our kind well for millennia. Those that would join us in maintaining fair and altruistic governance are welcome. 

Carlisle Cullen. 

I heard Carlisle's message repeating in their heads. It was inflammatory, and it would ensure that the Volturi would come. I didn't know whether to hope it would, or that Aro would ignore it. I doubted he would though…he would see it as a direct challenge.

 I realized that nothing will ever be the same.

 The others retreated, leaving Carlisle and I to fight…the father and the son…the peaceful one against the lost one. Neither of us had particularly put much into our fighting before…he hadn't had the heart, I hadn't cared. 

But not this time, this time we both allowed the monsters loose…

 All in all, Downward Spiral is a perfect mixture of insanity, love, revenge, family, and vampirism wrapped in a bow with Content1’s coherent writing style and nostalgic plot.

Enjoy!

Ruibin_Rua's Rec of the Week: 6/25/12

Gull to the Wind by ineedyoursway

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7046569/1/

Review by Ruibin_Rua

Rating: M
Genre: Angst/Hurt/Comfort
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: All-consuming, irreversible love. Edward, 25, frontman of band The Masens, falls hard.

There are some writers in the fandom who really stand out from the crowd, writing in a style that is both unique and refreshing. Ineedyoursway is definitely one of those writers. She has an easy, almost irreverent style of writing that I have rarely seen replicated and her ‘voice’ is always authentic. Having loved a previous story of hers, Young Pilgrims, I was delighted to review Gull to the Wind and bring her to the attention of a larger audience.

This story opens rather strangely, as we meet Bella for the first time while she is waiting on a doctor’s appointment to change her birth control prescription. This unusual setting gives us our first glimpse into the quirky mind of Bella Swan.

“I can't talk seriously about my vagina with someone who has kittens all over them. It's like a pregnant cat threw up on her body.” 

This Bella is still in high school, about to enter her senior year, but she’s a teenager with a definite twist and an attitude very much her own. She is caught in that awkward faze of not caring what others think of her and struggling to carve her own path. Funnily enough, her best friend in this story is an unapologetically whorish Jessica, and their interactions provide a lot of laughs.

Jessica puts on something skimpy and throws a clear poncho over it. I appraise her, arms crossed. 

"You look like a water proof stripper." 

The meat of this story begins when Bella meets Edward for the first time. I think this is probably the first time ever that a Bella and Edward have met because of Bella’s insane need to pee! Frustrated by the long line for the porta-loos, Bella goes in search of an alternative and ends up borrowing Edward’s VIP lanyard to use the private restrooms. Little does she realise that he is Edward Cullen, famous and elusive musician.

"My bladder thanks you so much!" I exclaim, throwing my arms around his shoulders and kissing his cheek. It reddens. 

Little do I know, this won't be the only time today that I unknowingly kiss Edward Cullen. 

The way this story progresses after this first meeting is surprising and more than a little off-the-wall, but that’s part of the experience. Just leave your preconceived notions at the door and allow Ineedyoursway to take you for ride. As Bella herself says, “you never know…”

"Edward Cullen," I state. 

I pinch my arm. 

"Did you just pinch yourself?" he asks, baffled. He's almost laughing. I'm probably delirious. 

"I was just checking!" I reply defensively, crossing my arms. "You never know.” 

Banner by JaimeArkin

Asfocd's Rec of the Week: 6/25/12

Beneath the Surface by MyBella & Eternally Addicted

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7558623/1/Beneath_The_Surface

Review by AnonymouslySufferingFromOCD

Rating: M
Genre: Adventure/Friendship
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: One summer, an internship in Africa, bloodlust, sharp teeth, and a boatload of fear are all that stand in the way of Bella Cullen landing a job at the Atlanta Aquarium - As long as she doesn't count cocky shark expert Edward Masen on her list.

Last year a very good friend of mine let me know that a new story was on the horizon, involving some of my favorite things, Sharks! Beneath the Surface follows a team of shark researchers from Masen Marine Research on the research vessel Galeos as they research sharks in their natural habitat, documenting their daily lives and patterns to provide the world at large with a true understanding of the life cycles of the amazing creatures that are sharks. Masen Marine Research or MMR, based in Hawaii, is the culmination of blood, sweat and tears of some very close friends/crew members, who are more like family to one another than anything. Edward Masen, or Masen as those close to him know him by, is the founder, president and captain of this crew and he takes being responsible for this team very seriously. So seriously that he doesn’t have time for distractions. However, unbeknownst to him, he is about to be majorly distracted for the summer by one Sea World employee.

At the encouragement of his Aunt Esme, Masen decides to begin a summer intern program. This is how we come to meet the newest member of the Galeos crew, Guppy aka Bella Cullen. Bella is a marine biologist from Florida that needs to gain some experience in field research in order to get the job of her dreams at the Atlanta Aquarium. She is also hoping to learn to overcome her greatest fear in life, sharks.

Bella has been through some extremely traumatic things in her life, and though we don’t know what all of those things are yet, we can make some assumptions about what those things might have been. While, it isn’t easy for Bella to leave her Uncle Carlisle and sister Alice behind to go face her fears, she knows that she has to do it if she is going to be successful in her career and in her life.

He walked with her until they were about a third of the way in before stopping her and trying again to ease her worries. Taking her by the shoulders, he pulled her in front of him and faced her toward the acrylic wall. "Look, there's a spotted eagle ray," he pointed out, picking what he figured would be the least threatening fish in the exhibit. "The Hawaiians call it hihimanu." 

The only sign that she was listening was the way her eyes tracked the ray up and over the small coral wall in front of them. 

"What do you know about eagle rays?" he asked, trying to distract her from her fear. 

"They're not a stingray." 

"Good. What else?" he encouraged. He was still holding onto her shoulders and his thumbs had started to rub the soft skin at the base of her neck. He told himself it was for her comfort but deep down he didn't really believe that was the only reason. 

"They're not a stingray because they don't have a venomous spine at the tail base. They have a long whip-like tail instead. They like eating crabs, shrimp, snails, and squid like other rays. They also have a long wingspan and are covered with white spots on the top and dark spots at the edges on the underside of their wings." 

"Very good," he said sincerely. He lifted one hand from her shoulder and used it to point out a white-tip reef shark to her. "That little shark right there with the white tip on its dorsal fin, that's one of the only sharks that doesn't have to be constantly moving to breathe. They can stay almost completely still until they're ready to move. They like to eat reef fish, octopus, crabs, and lobsters and like to live in caves and along ledges." 

"What's their other name?" She had asked the question so quietly that he almost didn't hear it over the laughing children and chattering adults surrounding them. 

"Mano lalakea. People see them a lot when they go scuba diving near the caves around Maui. They're not aggressive at all but it's still best to be cautious. A lot of marine life will bite when scared, especially fish whose biggest weapon against predators is their teeth." 

His comment about teeth sent a shiver through her but it was the large cruising tiger shark suddenly appearing in front of them that had her stepping away from the window and into his chest. "Relax, Guppy. We're just checking out the local marine life under safe, controlled circumstances. There's nothing for you to be worried about or afraid of here." 

They moved a little further into the exhibit with him pointing out the fish he knew and asking questions about the ones he figured she would know about it. It even seemed like she was starting to finally relax since she was asking a few questions of her own. 

MMR has been built by very close friends and family. Lee Hale, or Rosalie, Whit, or Jasper Whitlock and Masen have been friends for years, they have personal experience with a shark attack and that experience has driven them to better understand what makes sharks tick. Masen is a very driven and determined individual and MMR is his baby, well MMR and Lizzie his adorable Boston terrier.

Masen and Guppy get off to an interesting start when they meet in a bar not knowing who the other is and share a steamy dance and an even steamier kiss. After their debacle of a meeting it is hard for Masen to get Guppy off of his mind even though he fights it as hard as he can. He also becomes increasingly frustrated that she is so very afraid of sharks, but she hasn’t shared why yet. Don’t worry though we have Whit on our side and he pushes Masen whenever possible. Lee and her boyfriend, Gopher—that’s right ladies, Emmett McCarty is the crew’s gopher— round out the crew. And I should also mention that Lee doesn’t deal well with the newcomer.

"I'm going to guess you guys didn't ask names," Whit said, looking between Bella and the guy she'd been kissing. 

"I was just standing there and then he was … and it was … really fast," she blathered. She was trying to focus but her mind was too busy replaying those kisses. 

Whit looked as though he wanted to laugh but then he looked over at the guy and his expression immediately went neutral. "I better make introductions then. Isabella Cullen, this is Edward Masen." 

Her stomach clenched and she felt her face drain of blood and color. Edward had the opposite reaction—his face and neck turned an alarming shade of red and his hands curled into such tight fists that it made the tendons in his forearms flex before her stunned eyes. "What kind of bullshit is this? Did you think it was funny? Some kind of joke?" He was not quite yelling the questions at her but it was pretty darn close. 

"I could ask the same thing," she defended. "I know I look like the picture I sent Esme but you don't look anything like the one I got." 

"What's going on?" a female asked, sliding in beside Edward and wrapping her arm around his. "Major case of mistaken identity," Whit quickly answered. "Esme must have used an old pic of Masen here." 

"Very old," Bella agreed with a stiff nod. "Short hair, clean face, dark glasses, red tie. Complete opposite of … of you." 

So far this story has blown me away. The story line is new and exciting and it keeps us coming back for more. It has a little bit of everything you look for in a great story. Romance, sexual tension, drama, sexual tension, humor and suspense. Oh, did I mention the sexual tension?

 We are only eleven chapters in, with updates usually once every three to four weeks, but the updates are long, we are already at one hundred thousand words, which makes it completely worth the wait. My-Bella and Eternally Addicted have once again proven themselves with so many great stories, and they have put there hearts and souls into this one. They not only write a kick ass story, but they also have a phenomenal blog that actually has updates from all of the crewmembers! There are so many truly talented authors out there that don’t get enough credit and My-Bella and Eternally Addicted are two of them, check out Beneath the Surface, it truly deserves the read.

Camilla10's Rec of the Week: 6/25/12

I remain, Yours by Momatu

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7928270/1/I_remain_Yours
Review by Camilla10

Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Drama
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: Bella is unexpectedly given an antique desk that once belonged to Edward, and in it she finds a letter he wrote to his cousin in 1918. She responds and sets them off on a journey neither could ever have expected. Perhaps there are some things we aren't meant to understand, just accept... Will eventually contain character death - NOT Edward or Bella.

Did you ever wish you could have known Edward as a human teenager, beyond the dim memories he retains and shares with Bella? If you read I Remain, Yours you can, and your perception of him will never be the same.

You’ll discover that, apart from the patriotic desire of going to war, Edward was brave, compassionate, highly intelligent and mature. A lovely young man, who volunteers with sick war veterans in the hospital where – of course – a certain Doctor Cullen befriends him and his family ….

An unlikely and wonderful exchange of letters happens between Edward and Bella, via the magic desk given to her by a descendant of his family. The desk has a hidden drawer that allows for them to communicate and even give each other little things, like photos and mementoes.

At first both can’t believe what is happening to them, but they cannot resist the pull. The letters are delightful in themselves. Bella can tell him the future, the end of the Great War, the assassination of the Czar, and learn about his life and times, his interaction with his family, uncles, and cousins whom he loves. One is crippled by polio and Edward will be surprised and saddened to discover that polio has been defeated, in Bella’s time.

Everything Bella tells him is a continuous source of astonishment, TV, airplanes, and the fact that young ladies can ask boys to prom … He puzzles about “googling” something, and modern expressions and more make him wonder. But he is open minded. Like in here:

Yes, Tucson. I apologize. Quickly, Bella, what is the capital of Illinois? No looking in your computer gadget thingamabob. May I ask, what does it mean "to babysit"?

I know I have already told you this, but I want to repeat it. I do not care that your parents are divorced. I am sorry for it, of course, but I understand that you live in a very different world from mine. As much as I believe a marriage vow is unbreakable, I am a realist. If two people do not make each other happy, and their society allows for them to divorce, and the woman is able to provide for herself, it does seem pointless for them to remain together. 

This Bella is adorable, too. She has a sense of humor, she is loving and wise beyond her years. Despite the time chasm separating them, they are obviously made for each other and they soon pass from pen friends to people in love. This is made clear when events we know about start happening.

My Dear Bella, 

If there is one thing I have learned as the result of my father's sudden death, it is that not one single day, not one single moment can be taken for granted. We waste entirely too much time trying to impress and appease those who do not truly matter, while neglecting those who do. My dearest Bella, my dearest friend, please allow me to tell you how very much I value and treasure our friendship. In these past weeks, you have come to mean more to me than I can begin to explain. I do not know by what miracle our friendship has been made possible, but I will never cease to thank Heaven for it, and for you. 

While Edward copes with the aftermath, (particularly with an obnoxious uncle he eventually sends packing) and with his mother’s grief, Bella tries as hard as she can to support him.

 Dear Edward, 

Tell your uncle to stick a sock in it. Seriously, Edward, don't let him push you around. He has absolutely no right to tell you what to do. Please, don't blame yourself for what happened. I'm sure there was nothing you could have done. If there were any signs to be noticed, I'm sure you would have. You need to remember what your father told you, take care of your mother. I cannot even imagine how horrible this must be for both of you. 

And, later,

There has been a lot of research done into how people grieve in the last 91 years. I tried to find out as much as I could, but we deal with grieving after a loss much differently than you do, so I don't know if this will help or not. ……………………………………….. There may be nothing you can do or say, she may just need you to sit quietly with her not talking. Just squeeze her hand or put your arm around her. If she mentions your father, let her talk. Don't let anyone tell her what she should or shouldn't feel. No one knows what she has lost more than you do, but even your loss is different from hers. It is important to try to get her to eat, though. She needs to eat and sleep, and she needs to get exercise. Does she garden? Can you and she go for a walk, or is she expected to not leave the house? We don't really do the whole wearing black all the time thing. Some people refuse to wear black at all after someone dies. I hope that doesn't sound disrespectful to you. They're remembering and celebrating the person's life, rather than mourning their death. You said you had gotten a lot of flowers, does your mother have a favorite flower? Maybe you can try to keep some around the house... Have you asked her if she would like you to play for her? If you play while she is in another room, could she hear you? That way, it could be up to her if she joins you or not. I wish I could hear you play. 

The story is a WIP, but Momatu tells us that it is complete and she updates every week. As I write, the story got to the point where Bella and Edward are madly in love and crushed by the fact that they will never meet in their lifetimes. However, the reader knows that Edward too will get the influenza and that Doctor Cullen is there, so Fate will make the impossible possible …..

]What else can I tell you?  Go read this story – accurate from the historical point of view and careful in every detail– and get lost in it as I am.

New Fic of the Week: 6/18/12

A Street With No End by ExquisiteEdward

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8130220/2/A_Street_With_No_End

Review by Agrutle

Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Angst
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: One night, Dr. Cullen's life becomes painfully entangled with a woman whose world he alters forever. What lengths will he go to in search of redemption? Or can the redemption he so desperately seeks be found within himself? AH.

I must say when I signed up to write this review for A Street With No End, I was rather excited. I loved author, ExquisiteEdward’s story Color of Loneliness, so I was eager to see what this story was going to be. I wasn’t disappointed and I’m hooked after reading the first two chapters.

We are introduced to Edward as he is seeing his last patient for the night. He’s tired, starting to get sick and has been at the hospital for almost 36 hours. He just wants to finish up and go home to his fiancee. When he finally gets to leave he fights sleep as he drives.

Once seated in my Volvo, I blow out a heavy breath. I watch it spin a white color before it vanishes in the chill of my car. My head falls back against the headrest, and I close my eyes. Even my neck aches. For a moment, I consider crawling into the backseat to take a quick nap but decide against it when I begin to shiver again. I just want to get home to my soft bed that's covered in insanely expensive sheets. Sheets that my fiancée had insisted upon. 

Cupping my hands together, I blow into them before I flip the heat on high. The clock on my dash reads 12:30 a.m. I should be home and in my warm bed no later than 1:00. Sighing, I hold tight to that thought. Just a little bit longer… 

As I drive, the car begins to warm. I feel the heat around me like a blanket that's been pulled out of a hot dryer. Every muscle in my worn, exhausted body relaxes. My eyelids feel heavy. So heavy. 

I watch the lines on the pavement. Each line whipping past in a soothing, rhythmic pattern. Lulling me. Pulling me under. Deeper… 

My eyes snap open, my heart pounds. I must have dozed off. I'm not sure how long. Although it must have only been a few seconds. But that's all it takes… just a few seconds. 

Scrubbing my hand across my eyes, I straighten in my seat and switch off the heat. I roll the window down about two inches, letting in the chilled Chicago air, knowing that will help keep me alert. 

 Silent, tiny droplets of rain begin to spray across my windshield. I don't turn on the wipers right away. Instead, I watch as the water collects and makes streaky kaleidoscope-like patterns as the wind pushes and pulls the beads across the window. 

As I exit the highway, I drag in a deep breath. I'm about half-way home. There's not much traffic out this late at night. For a while, I watch the taillights in the distance until my gaze is pulled back to those lines on the pavement again. Line. After line. After line. After line. So hypnotic. My body feels weighted. I am so tired. So very, very tired… 

My ears are pierced by a deafening crack of thunderous sound. Like metal being smashed instantaneously in a compactor. My body is violently jerked and tossed about. And then silence. I feel disoriented. And there's pain. A throbbing sensation. Intense. Not like the body aches I had earlier. Much sharper. I feel it radiating down my chest. And across my stomach. I find it difficult to breathe. Someone shouts. I hear several voices. They're fearful and panicked. 

Where am I? 

Edward wakes up and realizes there has been an accident. His adrenaline kicks in causing him to slip into doctor mode. He asses the situation, and checks on the people in an old red pickup that has been flipped over. While he is doing all of this he is thinking in the back of his mind, Am I a Murderer?

Come and get into this story with me, the author ExquisiteEdward has a way of painting the picture so that you can see it in your mind. You know you want to see what happens! I, for one will be there to find out if Edward is a murderer or not. Don’t forget to leave the author some love!

WIP of the Week: 6/18/12

Perchance to Dream by NTJB

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6564379/1/Perchance_to_Dream

Review by evilnat

Rating: M
Genre: Drama
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: Bella Swan and Edward Cullen fall in love, deeply in love. But as their lives spiral out of control, Bella begins to realize that it might be too deep and questions whether it was love at all or something more dangerous...

Perchance to Dream starts off with a prologue that proves from the start that we’re certainly going to see some drama in this story. We begin in the present, Bella struggling with her decision to leave Edward; she is determined to get out on her own. Her relationship with Edward is like an addiction, one that she needs to end, before it totally ruins her.

Have you ever been at a point in your life when you need to be free and you can't? When everywhere you turn you see one wall after another, thicker than steel and higher than the sky? A life that resembles a maximum security prison more than your own damn life? 

I think I've been at that point twice. The first time was when I was stuck in the smallest town on the planet, Forks, Washington. I was there for three dreadful teenage years with my dad and hated every moment of it. 

The day I graduated was the best damn day of my life. It was also the day I promised myself I would never be in that circumstance again. I left Forks about a month after graduation, to college in NYC. The perfect city to be free to build myself and be who I wanted... or so I thought. 

So today, after all that I have done to leave the restraints behind, I'm here again: bound, veritably gagged, and blindfolded by my life. I have nowhere to go, nothing to see, no one to turn to. It's so much worse than it was before. Three years ago, there was a way out. I could always envision the road I would take to escape. Now, there is no road; there are only walls. 

But, here's the crazy thing. You ready for this? I am the only person who could break me out of this prison. Hell, it's not even a real prison! It's all in my goddamn head. I don't even know where the walls begin and where they end, but I do know that for years, I've been seeking the wrong means for release. 

Chapter one takes us back in time to tell her story. Bella’s a student who can barely afford to live, she lives in an insect infected apartment and doesn’t have much of a social life. She’s kind of melancholy, it’s like she’s existing but not really living.

For one of her classes she is given an assignment where she must choose a Shakespearean play and compare it with a film. She chooses Hamlet and as luck would have it, The New School has a production of Hamlet showing, so she decides to drag her old friend, Jake, who happens to be visiting that weekend from Forks.

Jessica Stanley is Bella’s academic rival. Jessica is always been right there, enrolled in at least two of her classes each year, competing against her for whatever academic accolade she can get. Bella detests her and their banter is bitchy and Jessica is blatantly mean. She always seems to appear right when you think Bella’s gotten rid of her and its obvious she has something going on with one of their professors. She tells Bella that the top two scores on the Shakespearean class assignment will be recommended for an internship at The New Yorker. Not knowing if this is true or not, but not willing to bet against Jessica, seeing as she has inside information with the professor, Bella is determined to write the best paper she can. She needs this internship.

Jake is cryptic about why he’s visiting Bella and even though she tries to get it out of him she has no idea what would bring him to NYC guessing that he might have been signed by a record company. Bella and his girlfriend, Leah, don’t get along, but he shows up with her anyway much to Bella’s annoyance.

We don’t meet Edward until chapter four when Bella takes Jake and Leah to see Hamlet and he is the lead actor. She’s seen his picture on the playbill and the advertisement put out by the NYU newsletter and even dreamed about him, but to see him in person, on the stage leaves her mesmerized.

I was transfixed by him, just like I felt when I saw his picture in the newsletter. No one else existed. In fact, I felt like I didn't exist. 

His eyes shone like beacons and his voice was a rich baritone that echoed across the seats. He had a British accent like the other actors, but this one was believable. Was he British, really? Fuck, this was like my dream guy come true. There was nothing sexier than a British accent. 

He moved so comfortably around the stage as if it were his home or even a temple. And the black period costume fit him perfectly, like a condom... er, a glove. When I wasn't captivated by his eyes, I was staring at his tights. 

He stood a little left of center near the end of the soliloquy, looking into the audience as if he were speaking to everyone in the front row. I began to feel like sitting in the fourth row was hell in comparison. Thinking of the audience pulled me out of the shock from his presence. And as Horatio, Marcellus and Bernardo entered stage left, I exhaled... and heard the two girls in front of me exhale as well. 

Whoa, what was that? What the fuck was that? What was going on with me? 

I shook my head, barely paying attention to the rest of the scene. I hardly remembered any of his soliloquy. I was lost through the rest of Act I and grateful for the two minute break before Act II. The last thing that I could remember was how well his tights fit him. 

Edward forgets one of his lines in the next act, and Bella, much to the embarrassment of Jake, stands up and recites it to him. She can’t help herself, there’s something about him. She runs out of the theatre to get some air, mortified, when Edward calls to her from the front door of the theatre.

"Wait!" From a voice to make all hearts cease beating... in an accent to make all panties melt. "Don't leave." 

I turned around slowly, the smoke from the guy smoking before clouding my vision of him... of his brilliant eyes. I squinted through it, trying to make sure. Then, the wind picked up, clearing it all away. 

I gaped in disbelief. Edward Cullen. He stood at the doorway, out of breath, still in costume, hesitantly taking a couple of steps toward me. 

His eyes were more brilliant now than they had ever been. They were brighter than beacons, beaming directly into my soul. 

"Stay. Please?" 

 And so begins the rollercoaster that is Bella and Edward’s relationship. Things with him are not simple. He’s a serious actor, trying to make it and he’s got issues of his own.

There are a lot of layers to Bella’s story and with each chapter we unravel another. Things aren’t smooth sailing for her, in her studies and in her relationships. With 23 chapters and over 106,000 words you’ve got a lot of story to sink your teeth into.

WIP of the Week: 2/6/12

All That Remains by The Edwardians

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6723327/1/All_That_Remains

Review by Mama_Doofas

Rating: M
Genre: Angst/Romance
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: He had it all; perfect wife, beautiful children and a job he loved. Until she walked into his life and turned it upside down. When the dust settles after fate is through with them, who will be left standing?

Back when this story first came out, I kept hearing that it was a Cheaterward fic...so...I'll be honest, I stayed away from it. Then it came up as the next one needing to be reviewed, and because of its “reputation” I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it. But, for some reason, it kept taunting me, saying “read me” (yes...I know...I'm crazy, fics talk to me, ok?!...lol) So, I gave in and said I would do it.

Best...decision...I...made! No joke!

This fic is nothing like what you think it is. It's well written, and truly sucked me in right from the beginning. Edward marries his high school sweetheart, Angela. They both had plans, they wanted to go to college and become doctors, the whole nine yards. So to Edward, it just made sense. They wanted the same things in life and he was sure that he loved Angela enough. He decided he wanted to get into pediatrics; Angela went into the research field. Right around their last few months of schooling, Angela finds out that she's pregnant with twins. They get married, have the twins and to make sure that the twins don't interfere with Angela's time consuming carrier, they decide to hire an au pair (a nanny of sorts). That's where Bella comes in. Angela does a phone interview, likes what she hears and loves her application so much that she decides that she wants to hire Bella. So, Bella moves from Canada to Chicago and becomes their au pair. The first time Edward and Bella meet, is a day that changes all their lives forever.

Here is a bit of what you are missing...

"See anything you like?" the saleslady asked me. 

"Oh, thanks but I was just looking." I answered her. 

She took out the ring I had been looking at and put it in front of me. How do they always know what you are looking at, I wondered. "Try it on," she said. 

"Really, no thank you, I was just looking. It is very pretty though thanks." I told her. 

"Try it on," Edward said over my right shoulder. He startled me. I hadn't realized that he had followed me around the store. 

"No, no, I was just looking…" I tried to explain. "Just try it on. You don't have to buy it." He said. 

So I put it on. It fit my first finger perfectly and looked really nice. "It is really pretty," I told the saleslady. "Thanks for letting me try it on." 

"My pleasure," she said. As she stood in front of me I heard someone call our number for the wrapped package. Edward said he would go get it and I stood where I was with the twins. 

"You two look very much in love," the saleslady said, "you can always tell by the way two people look at each other and the way that man looks at you…well, you are one lucky lady." She finished. 

Say what? I was shocked. "Oh no, we aren't…" 

"Excuse me Miss…may I see this watch please?" a customer yelled at her. 

"Oh excuse me Miss. Have a pleasant holiday." She said as she walked away. 

I stood there absolutely dumbfounded. Edward looked at me like he was in love? I looked at him like I was in love? Dear Lord, is that what I looked like every time I looked at him? If that was the case then everyone must know how I feel about him. Oh my God, I think I am going to hyperventilate. Shit. Right in the middle of the store. This cannot be happening. Everyone must know about how I feel and I thought I was doing such a great job of hiding it. 

This story is so beyond what I thought it really was. I'm actually still kicking myself in the ass for not starting this story sooner...lol. So...take my advice and go check out All That Remains ASAP!

WIP of the Week: 1/30/12

Snapdragon by Prettykittyartist

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7584562/1/Snapdragon

Review by Les16

Rating: M
Genre: Angst/Romance
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: Once upon a time, a girl fell in love with a boy. He gave her a ring and promised her forever. No one told her there'd be an expiration date on her glass slippers. What's a girl to do when she stands to lose everything? She fights. Hard. EXB AH AU

Do you like stories where Edward and Bella are married-older, wiser, and have really lived? Do you like when they have kids? How about a strong, fierce Bella willing to fight for what she wants? Or an Edward that is so far from perfect he's in his own zip code? If real, raw, and honest is your cup of tea, then prettykittyartist's Snapdragon is definitely the story for you.

If you've read any of prettykittyartist's work before (and if you haven't, WHERE have you been?) you know she's an HEA girl, but by the time you reach the end of the first chapter, you'll likely be scratching your head trying to figure out which magic hat she has to be able to pull that off for this fic. Bella and Edward are married, and have been for almost 20 years. If you ask Edward, he'll tell you happily … ask Bella and you're going to get a much different answer.

He chuckled against my lips and pulled away after leaving several small pecks. "We're embarrassing the children again," he said without apology. 

I shrugged and pulled myself closer to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. "That's the fun part." I hugged him close to me and soaked up the manly scent of his skin as I pressed my nose to his chest. 

"I'm going to miss you," I said softly. 

He stroked my back gently and hummed into my hair. "I'll miss you too, cookie," he said before kissing me again. I wasn't sure if it was more to piss off our gagging daughter, or for his benefit, but I had to admit I was dreading the trip he was about to take. 

I smiled against his lips. "You haven't called me cookie for a long time," I mused. The nickname always brought back so many memories and always brought me to my knees. 

"You'll always be my cookie," he promised. "I'm sorry I was an asshole earlier. I'm just tired." 

I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head against his chest. "Wake me up next time, okay? I don't like you sleeping somewhere else." 

The thing that gets me, and I know will get you, too, is how real this story is. Just because there are couples all over the world going through the same issues … kids, money, meddlesome parents, exes … does not mean this story is cliché. I promise you it's anything but. You'll root for Bella (and probably hope she practices Kung Fu on Edward's nether regions) and you're going to want to hold him down, shave his head, and tattoo asshole across his forehead. At the same time though, you're going to root for them both to work things out and be the couple they're supposed to be. Prettykittyartist has done an excellent job of using flashbacks to show us how much in love Edward and Bella used to be … and lets us know how they can be again. The words she uses are straight forward and in your face. There's no sugarcoating and there's no hiding. Edward and Bella's marriage is crumbling before their eyes and it's ugly and painful … and so very real, but there are glimpses of sunshine through the dark. The only question? Is Bella strong enough to stem the tide and put her family back together again or is she too late?

Read Snapdragon and find out. I guarantee you won't be sorry.

WIP of the Week: 1/23/12

Fated Love by twilover76

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7189026/1/Fated_Love

Review by Agrutle

Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Hurt/Comfort
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: Bella's life is a somewhat lonely existence, until one day she unexpectedly meets her soulmate. SexyBella and Doctorward fall head over heels quickly. Will their friends and family approve of their whirlwind romance? AH/M for a reason

Love at first sight is thought of often as mythological, not real. Not so for Bella and Edward, after seeing each other in different spots of New York City, getting stuck in an elevator is exactly what the pair needed to get them together to see if the pull they felt before was real in the flesh.

Tragedy struck when Bella was just eighteen, having her dad, her only living parent, killed in the line of duty. Being an adult already, she was able to stay in her home and finish her senior year. She had the help of her brother, Emmett and his girlfriend, Rosalie. They would come home from college when they could to check on her. After Emmett gets drafted to play for the Chicago Bears, they ask her to move with them too. She wants them to have their own lives, and she feels like she’s already burdened them too much.

In New York City, after her best friends Angela’s wedding, Bella is trying to check out of her hotel room and gets the strangest sensation and turns around, sees him, and her heart starts to race. She is instantly attracted to him. Knowing that she most likely won’t see him again, she pushes it out of her mind and heads to the airport. A thunderstorm grounds the flights until the next day, so she heads back to her hotel room that she was charged for already. On the elevator, Bella and Edward start their love story.

"My name is Edward Cullen. I figured we should introduce ourselves," I said, giving her a smile. 

"Isabella Swan, but I prefer Bella." She smiled back. Her voice flowed over me like dark honey. Her smile alone made my heart pound. I had never felt anything like that before. I knew it was probably Lifetime movie network worthy, but I couldn't help it. I was smitten. 

"Bella. Beautiful. Very fitting." I nodded as I said her name out loud. I saw her blush, even in the dim glow of the emergency light. "It's nice to meet you, Bella." 

I couldn't resist leaning in a little closer and breathing in her potent and desirable scent. I inhaled sharply when her small hand reached up and brushed my cheek. I closed my eyes and leaned into her touch. She pulled back slightly, and I opened my eyes to see her biting her bottom lip. 

"Sorry. You….it's just….um…." she softly mumbled, as if embarrassed. 

"Shhh, beautiful. It's good. I liked it." I didn't want her to be embarrassed. I wanted her to touch me. Everywhere. That touch re-ignited my cock which was then painfully hard. I felt like an out-of-control teenager. 

"Really?" she asked, moving in closer. I held my breath in anticipation, thinking that she might initiate a kiss; I didn't want to do anything to scare her away. We were so close, I could feel her breath as she exhaled on my face. At the last second, instead of heading for my lips, she leaned into my neck and inhaled deeply. My hand that had been stroking her hair stopped on the back of her head, holding her close to me. 

"Can you feel this, too?" she whispered near my ear. 

"Yes, beautiful girl. I feel it. I don't know what it is, but I feel it, too," I said as she leaned back to bring us face to face again. Her hands moved around to the back of my neck, and she played with the ends of my hair. My eyes slid from hers down to her lips and back up again, silently asking permission. She smiled and nodded slightly; I slowly leaned forward, giving her plenty of opportunity to pull back if she wanted. Instead, she closed the gap herself, and our lips met halfway. 

That’s all it took, they spend the night together. Bella decides she can’t live without Edward and they talk about her moving to Chicago and living with him on a trial basis. If, once she gets there and they don’t mix well, no harm not foul, Emmett and Rose would be there and she could stay with them. To worry about this was ridiculous because they were two halves of a whole, soul mates. Things progress nicely and they fall in love even more daily.

"Bella." I said, grabbing her hands, and looking into her eyes. Please love me like I love you, beautiful girl. I dropped down to one knee in front of her, pulled out the small velvet box, opened it, and placed it in her hand. 

"Bella, my love. Every day I spend with you makes me fall in love with you even more. I can't thank God enough for bringing you into my life. I never believed in fate until I saw you crossing the lobby for that elevator and I knew with every cell in my body I had to get to you before those doors closed." She smiled at me through her tears. "I love you more than anything and I promise to love you and cherish you for the rest of my life. Isabella Marie Swan, will you marry me?" 

"Yes!" She sobbed. "Yes, my Edward, I will marry you. I love you so much." She was trembling with emotion as the tears ran down her face along with the rain. I slid the ring on her finger, her hand shaking, and she smiled at the perfect fit. The pixie strikes again. 

"It was my grandmother Masen's engagement ring. I hope you like it." I told her. 

Their whirlwind romance captures you from the start and you get caught up in the happiness they share. The author has that special something that makes you feel the butterflies of anticipation when the love birds are together. You must check out this beautiful story and show the author some love.

TennesseeLamb's Rec of the Week: 11/28/11

Stolen Secrets & Shattered Dreams by FoxxyJ

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7385951/1/Stolen_Secrets_and_Shattered_Dreams

Review by TennesseeLamb

Rating: M
Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Drama
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: A NYC barman views his mind reading as an isolating cancer, until he meets a lonely 28yr old trying to escape her sad reality. His life is full of harsh lessons. Hers an uphill battle, so she never complains when a beautiful boy treats her badly. EXB AH

If Tom Cruise had Renee Zellweger at “Hello”, then FoxxyJ had me at “No ripping foil packets!” That’s right, I was pulled into this story on the sole fact that I would not have my (yes, MY) lemon interrupted with a frigging condom PSA. Now, before you write me off or make an even bigger mistake and forgo this story because of your moral obligations to safe sex, you might want to take a peek at this fic and stake your claim as an early reader because it is about to take off like the Space Shuttle.

The premise is a truly unique twist on Edward’s mind-reading capabilities and the barriers he creates to keep people and their thoughts at bay. He is still our favorite tortured soul, but he has a playfulness that carefully masks his pain. FoxxyJ has an imagination like no other, taking the characters we love and turning them into people we want to meet. Most of her story takes place in Edward’s bar named BE Bar. Edward and Jasper are stars in a nightly show at the Manhattan BE Bar, asking their patrons to follow three simple rules:

1. Leave your troubles at the door. (You quickly find out why this is the Golden Rule of Be Bar.)
2. Address the staff by name. (I ask you, when is a name just a name?)
3. Just be. (This is harder than it seems, for us and for Bella.)

The moment Bella steps into BE Bar, she grabs our attention with her mind chatter and stream of consciousness. She is a young lady with a lot on her mind and it is taking its toll on her spirit. However, buried beneath the worry and stress is a simple romantic soul in need. Specifically, Bella is in need of change for the pay phone and an orgasm. Sounds simple enough, right?

"I want you to follow the rules." 

"I can't. They're too hard," she admitted, although it pained her to do so. 

"Ah, finally you're being honest. That's a start. Thank you." He leaned with his arms folded on the bar, bringing him down to her height. She could look him right in the eye. 

"I'll make you a deal then. I'll loan you the quarters. You have to bring them back here tomorrow night after work, but before I do, I want you to think about what you want. What would you like right now to make you feel happy and free? Maybe it's something I can give you—maybe not—but I want you to think about it. Deal?" 

Bella had to agree that this deal was a lot easier than what she had been expecting. At his words, she felt a sense of relief and wanted to try what he had suggested. 

"Deal. I'll bring the quarters back tomorrow night." 

"Good. Close your eyes." His smooth voice and the unusual ambiance of the place made it easy to do. Bella closed her eyes and held onto the brass railing to steady herself. 

"Now, think about the one thing that would make you feel alive and free right now. Anything you desire, if everything were possible." 

At the mention of the word desire, Bella's sexual thoughts reared again. She loved his voice. It was gentle on her ears, and she wondered if he could sing, too. Quieting her mind, she thought about what she wanted right now. 

What would end the day from hell on a good note? 

What do I want? 

Oh God, yes, an orgasm. 

But how… 

Oh, from him. Yes, from this annoying sexy stranger. He can give me one and the quarters. 

But where… 

Somewhere I'd never do it. Where? Just be… Just feel… 

Oh, yes, here…on the bar…in public…with his tongue. 

Trust me. You want to know how Edward sees this image in Bella’s mind and what it forces him to do. FoxxyJ’s Edward doesn’t just read minds, that implies a choice. It is more like he lives in a room of powered up TV’s - some muted and some with the volume up to deafening levels, leaving Edward forced to live with distractions. His trust and vulnerability are tightly guarded under a mask of games and parlor tricks. This story is not just generic fic with witty banter and steamy lemons. It is a story you want to go on forever because it pulls you away from your everyday routine, allowing a few moments of escape while reminding you that love and acceptance is all we really want in this life. Its immediate draw reminds me of a book I picked up a few years ago about a high school girl who falls in love with a vampire.

I suggest you block out several hours and put the Do Not Disturb sign on your door. This story is going to keep you up all night. FoxxyJ keeps your mind engaged with the carefully constructed plot line and your libido humming with the spicy lemonade served up at BE Bar. Currently, Stolen Secrets and Shattered Dreams is 9 chapters, which is just enough to make you sleep deprived for two days, but not nearly enough to satisfy your craving for more. FoxxyJ updates regularly and her author’s notes deserve their own reviews! I have been reading fan fiction for two years and I am uber picky about what I read. Life is too short and time is too precious for recycled story lines or sloppy lemons.  Stolen Secrets and Shattered Dreams is worth letting the laundry pile up on the couch and settling for that B- instead of the A. This is not a story to be put on your “to be read” list. This is a “drop everything and run right now” story that will end up in the Fic Hall of Fame.

There are many Edwards in fic archives and but only a few epic ones - Fifty, Penny, Ned, Dick,...ladies, meet Sugarlips.

LadyTazz7's Rec of the Week: 11/28/11

Compulsions by MissKingAtYourService

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6753085/1/Compulsions

Review by LadyTazz7

Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Angst
Characters: Carlisle & Bella

Summary: Fate seems to have thrown these two together. Will one explosive night of sex be enough or will destiny bring them closer? Can a relationship develop among the shambles of both of their lives? OOC, AH.

Most people are aware that I’m helplessly in love with Carlisle Cullen. Carlisle/Bella is my favorite pairings to read. And write. When I came across Compulsions, I was instantly lost in the story. MissKingAtYourService takes you on a wild and amazing ride. This is a must read for any Bella/Carlisle lover.

We begin with Bella’s friends taking her out for a night on the town to a Swinger’s Club to make sure she gets laid.

(From chapter 1) 

Staring into the mirror, I cringed as my hair was tugged and teased into a tangled mess. Or as Alice and Rose would argue; sex hair. My eyes had never stood out so much, the black eyeliner framing my chocolate eyes, and black glitter eye shadow finished the look. I was going to look like a call girl. 

"Oh, Bella, you're gonna get so much attention, whoever gets you is one lucky guy," Rose beamed. 

Crap. "What if I get a fat middle-aged psycho?" 

"Um, well, you could just close your eyes and fantasize again. After all, that's what you're good at." 

"Shut up, Alice, this is serious. I can't believe I let you talk me into this." 

"Look, Bella, you'll be fine. This is just about sex, and you don't have to be attractive to be good in bed." 

Shrugging, I turned back to the mirror, "Okay, so what am I gonna wear? I could wear my little black dress." 

While across town Carlisle is getting ready to confront his cheating wife at the very same Swinger club.

(From chapter 1) 

Grabbing the package from the P.I, I pulled the contents out, splaying them over the desk. She had been with five different men that I knew of. I had to go to the club, to confront them, to find her. Looking through them, I found the name of the place; The Sleepy Hollow. How nice. 

Searching on the internet, I found the place she had been visiting. It was described as a place for couples to relax and socialize. Yeah right, my wife was apparently socializing with everyone she could get her claws into. Scribbling down the address, I stood and walked to the window. 

I had thought I was enough for her sexually, but obviously I was not. 

So, we have two lost souls going to a swingers club for completely different reasons.

(From chapter 1)

My breath caught in my throat when I came face to face with the girl standing there. She was stunning, her hair tousled beautifully, her deep brown eyes staring into mine. She looked so innocent. She was wearing a black trench coat that fell just above the knee, and her legs went on for miles, finished off with red stilettos.

Her attire screamed sex. However, her eyes betrayed her. She looked like a frightened deer caught in the headlights. What the hell was she doing here? 

(From chapter 2) 

Staring at the talk, dark, and handsome man in the doorway, I didn't know whether to run away and hide or to introduce myself. What was I supposed to say? 'Hey, my name's Bella and I'm here to fuck anything that moves. Maybe that would be a little too forward. 

"I'm here for the um..." 

A smile spread across his face at the sight of my blushing cheeks. Giving a slight smile back, I stepped inside, my eyes still glued to his bright blue eyes. 

"You could call it a party?" 

I nodded instantly, accepting his polite suggestion. And to think I had been worried about meeting a middle-aged man. I was extremely happy to have met him; age didn't matter when you looked as good as that. The rough-handed Mike shoved me hard with his bony shoulder, scowling at him. His eyes flickered from me to the handsome door man. 

"Oh, this is Mike, he's, um...my friend." 

The man before me nodded sternly toward Mike, "It's nice to see someone with such manners." His voice was soft yet stern. Blushing lightly, I smiled as I saw the anger growing on Mike's face. Nobody had ever stuck up for me like that before, and he didn't even know me. Perhaps chivalry wasn't dead after all. 

Muttering something under his breath, Mike stormed off in the direction of the low music. Glancing around, I didn't know where to put myself. Deciding I should probably go with Mike, I turned to the man, "It was nice meeting you...?" 

"Carlisle. And you?" 

"Bella." I nodded before turning and walking down the hall. 

I love this Bella, she is bolder and more confident than many I read. There are no words to describe how in love I am with this Carlisle, he is just sex on legs.

(From chapter 2) 

Turning, I saw that Carlisle was following me as I made my way to the stairs before stopping and tugging the horrible shoes from my sore feet. He let out another heartwarming laugh as he grabbed my shoes and helped to steady me up the stairs. "I should feel guilty taking an inebriated young woman up to a hotel room." 

Flushing, I tried to concentrate on my feet and keep my mind out of the gutter. If I analyzed it too much, I would end up backing out of it. Checking the key, I looked for our room; number thirteen, unlucky for some, but not for me. Fumbling around with the lock, Carlisle seemed to notice I was having a hard time, so he took the key from me. Opening the door, he allowed me to go in first. 

Before I could lose my nerve, I pulled the belt free and pushed the coat over my shoulders and allowed it to drop to the floor, revealing my outfit for the evening. Turning to meet Carlisle's expression, I let a sultry smile spread across my face. His eyes grew wide as he dropped my shoes and the key to the floor. 

Can a chance meeting a swinger club be more than a one night stand? Read this amazing, sexy story and find out. Compulsions is 10 chapters in and let me tell you, MissKingAtYourService keeps you on toes, and she leaves you wanting more! Tazzy gives this story 2 thumbs up!!

SammieLynnsMom's Rec of the Week: 11/28/11

The Procrustean Bed by gemini13me

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6991264/1/The_Procrustean_Bed

Review by SammieLynnsMom

Rating: M
Genre: Drama/Romance
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: A Procrustean Bed- a standard or set of conditions, determined arbitrarily, to which everyone is forced to conform. But the question is... are there really any rules when it comes to the affairs of the heart?

When I stumbled on The Procrustean Bed the first time, I had to admit I tilted my head to the side just at the title. Not wanting to look up the word to figure out what the heck it meant, I was happy to see a definition given in the summary. From there, my interest was piqued and then I couldn’t put it down.

The story starts off as a mystery; as Bella, a college student who works in a bookstore literally runs into Edward Cullen, a millionaire lawyer, with a steaming cup of coffee at Starbucks. We learn from the beginning that Edward is a widower after losing his wife, Tanya, to cancer. Bella, who lives with her crass best-friend, Angela, is just getting by each day at a time.

When Edward stumbled into the bookstore Bella works in, you’d think sparks would fly like any other romance story, right? No, and it’s also what drug me into this story further, because I had to know how these two worked out. The journey to finding true love and understanding is slow, and involves a meddling little Jessica, Edward’s niece, after he brings her on a trip to the bookstore. From there, Gemini13me takes her readers on a ride that show’s how Edward slowly begins to come to terms with the loss of his wife, as Bella grows into the role of more.

The story is currently a work in progress. After a trip to the Czech Republic, Edward and Bella connect in a way that they know they can no longer deny, but Bella has yet to meet Edward’s family. Unlike most stories; Edward had refused to bend to his family’s will his entire life, and has even hung up on his mother, that everyone will agree is Satan herself.

"I'm ready," I said, trying to sound as confident as I could. "I want to meet your mother." 

Although on the outside I was putting up a brave front, on the inside I was scared shitless. The fear of that terrible woman had irrevocably squeezed its way into my heart and an obsessive prayer was repeating into my mind incessantly. 

God help me. 

We know the next chapter will bring us to the prologue and will be nothing short of a showdown, which has me definitely stalking for an update! So, go read, you won’t regret it!

WIP of the Week: 11/21/11

The Walls of Dreaming by Her Mighty Ubergeekness

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7266225/1/The_Walls_of_Dreaming

Reviewed by MandaLyn

Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Suspense
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: Several years after Edward leaves her, Bella is an adrenaline junkie that crosses paths with the Cullen family during her University studies. Her world is turned upside down with the new dangers she faces. Who will save her now?

If you demand both an interesting story line and an amazingly well-written fic, The Walls of Dreaming fits the bill better than anything else out there. Her Mighty Ubergeekness takes Bella a few years into the future, leaving off from Edward’s exit in New Moon, and shows us the woman she could have become away from the Cullen family. A design student in college and a major adrenaline junkie, Bella is intelligent, witty, and fun to read. She is dealing with her past in a very realistic and believable fashion that is told in a way that the reader is really pulled into her head and heart.

As wonderful as Bella is written in this tale, it’s really the characterization of Edward that appeals the most to me. Her Mighty Ubergeekness shows us what he really might have been like, having existed since the early 1900’s and being the intelligent and, when it comes to love, clueless soul he might have been. This is not a tale where Edward shows up and Bella throws her arms around him and all is forgiven. Bella and Edward really have to work through their issues and it’s done in a very entertaining and engaging, and most importantly a very believable, way.

The rest of the Cullen family, along with a very interesting Jacob, are also featured in this story. The point-of-view changes in some chapters to include Bella, Esme, and Edward. Just check out the author’s note to see the creative way that Her Mighty Ubergeekness has fashioned to help the reader keep them all straight. I just can’t express how fantastic this fic it! It is an amazingly smart and fun fic. Check it out, you’ll be so glad you did.

WIP of the Week: 11/7/11

Over the Rainbow by EquiVamp

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5947500/1/Over_The_Rainbow

Review by FictionFreak95

Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Adventure
Characters: Bella

Summary: School's out for the summer and Bella's about to take a journey to the otherside of the rainbow. She knows her Lion, Scarecrow and Tinman in real life, but will her trip over the rainbow be enough to help her find true love? 

“We’re not in Forks, anymore, Cullen.” 

Did you watch The Wizard of Oz when you were growing up? Maybe your kids watch it now? Maybe you don’t have kids but you still watch it like I do? Did you fall in love with the Scarecrow, the Lion and the Tin Man like I did? Did you read what I consider some of the fanfiction version of this story, Wicked, and see its fantastic Broadway show when it came to your town?

If you answered yes to any of the above, you are going to die for this fic.

Equi writes some straight up chill factor words in this crossover with laughs and heart clutches sprinkled in throughout as well. It is chock full of both Twilight moments and Wizardly moments and most of the Twilight cast at least makes an appearance. (P.S. not all necessarily are canon. *waggles eyebrows*)

So, starting out, Bella is in high school with a “strange”, brooding, outcast of an Edward…

"You know," he said suddenly, "If you had any kind of brains, you'd stay away from me." 

"Let's make believe I'm brainless. Will you change your mind and come with us?" 

"No, probably not." 

A strong yet sweet and polite, to the extent that he won’t fight back when getting harassed, Emmett (totally swoon worthy)…

"Emmett, why do you let them harass you?" I asked. "You could take them all." And it was true. 

Emmett McCarty was no light weight, not physically anyway. He was as tall as Jasper, maybe taller, and he definitely had more muscle than any of the jocks in school. He was the only nerd on the planet who built better than Vin Diesel. 

…. "Its not right… to hit. Mom said, never to hit." 

And a seemingly heartless Jasper Hale…

"You are a goddamned tease. You should be my girl. On my arm. In my car." He paused for a breath and added, "In my bed." 

Complete with evil twin sister, Rosalie in tow…

"Try explaining to daddy that you weren't drinking when you are covered in the evidence… Does the chief know where his little girl is tonight?" 

I wonder if you can tell from these passages who will be who once Bella crosses over to Munchkinland!

In the beginning of the story, Bella decides to go to a carnival that just arrived in town with her girlfriends and runs into Madame Mary Alice who eerily tells her of her future… and to get a dog. *ded*

"Hmm… I see true love… and a great journey… three men and one is your destiny." 

"A great journey?" I asked. 

"Yes." 

"Where am I going?" 

"Vacation?" She asked. 

Uh, no. "You mean you don't know?" 

"Do you?" 

Before I could form a response she said, "Hush child." 

Child? She couldn't have been more than a few years older than me, if that. But I didn't argue. 

"Mm-hmm… yes…" she mumbled to herself as she stared at the ball. 

"What?" 

"Do you have a dog?" 

"No." 

"Get one." 

She later reluctantly attends a party, thrown by the evil Hale twins, one night and runs off after an altercation with Jasper, into a storm. That’s where the story really takes off. I can’t give too much away, I don’t want to ruin the introductions or the little twists and turns we get here but I will tell you this… Equi has weaved a delicious mixture of the two stories while adding in just enough original plot to make you sincerely fall in love with these characters even more so than you did in the first place.

Another bonus, Equi has put her very own original spin on the character’s descriptions that will make you think this is a whole new story all together, in some ways.

Thus far, this story is 16 chapters in and yet only has around 50 reviews, guys.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, just because it’s unknown, doesn’t mean it’s not epic.

Go, find equi, read this tale of twisted fates and destinies and leave her some lovin’ when you’re done because this story does not have nearly the amount of reviews that it should have, in my humble opinion that is.