bbwraven's Rec of the Week: 1/31-2/6

Comfort & Joy by The Mystic Giraffe

 http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6565341/1/Comfort_and_Joy
Review by bbwraven

Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Hurt/Comfort
Characters: Edward/Rosalie

Summary: 12 days that can make or break a relationship. 12 days that can lead to hope or despair. Which path will Rosalie and Edward choose? Written for the 12 days of Christmas writing challenge

When Evilgiraffe82 and Domysticated wrote ‘Comfort and Joy’ under their penname TheMysticGiraffe, they took a few essential characteristics and ventured into the most taboo pairing in the world of Twilight.

Roseward.

When I first started reading fanfiction this Rose/Edward pairing were (and continues to be) a major no-no but as time went by, I’ve read other stories where people have openly adored Bella/Jasper & Slash fics. As of late Emmett/Bella is more acceptable.

But what is the reasoning why people simply can’t get over the pairing of Rose and Edward? I can understand if it was Alice and Emmett, I shudder at the thought. The beauty of fanfiction is to allow your imagination to fly with your favorite character from your favorite book.

If we were to follow Twilight (the bible), even Carlisle saw them together but for some reason we simply can’t wrap our minds around this thought, nor do we want to visualize. As a writer, I’ve been intrigued by Rose, but not with Emmett and I started to search for others who wanted to think outside the usual box and found ‘Comfort and Joy’.

Rose is the typical Class A bitch but you quickly discover it’s a complete front to hide her inner demons and insecurities. Rose wholeheartedly loves Edward but is so afraid to let him in that she begins to push him away.

Throughout the story, we get glimpses of what happens in her relationship with Emmett.

He took my most secret, darkest insecurity—extracted, in a moment of weakness, with a heavy hand and a murky intent—and threw it back at me, coated in poison and deceit. It landed like a cluster bomb into my heart; the debris is still buried deep, threatening to detonate again and destroy me.

Edward is undoubtedly head-over-heels in love with Rose; at times he’s a goofy romantic who blindly only sees her beauty and he has a purpose to make this the best Christmas for he and Rose. At times, it seems Edward is completely oblivious to the elephant in the room and you realize he’s more than aware of the pain but unsure how to broach the subject.

But that’s when you realize their biggest problem…..Communication.

What I love about this story is that they don’t lay it out for you and then tidy it up with a pretty little bow. I love the fact that C&J demands your imagination but I also hate the fact that you WANT MORE! Only twelve chapter and to this day I want more and at times re-read a certain chapter (*cough cough*) and still cry.

I think Evilgiraffe82 and Domysticated did an excellent job on this collaboration and officially kicked off my Roseward love. I hope more writers will take chances and think outside the box.

I look forward to the day when Roseward is truly accepted.

Banner by JaimeArkin

Bbwraven's Rec of the Week: 9/27-10/3

Hide in Plain Sight by FangMom

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5580563/1/Hide_In_Plain_Sight

Review by bbwraven

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

Summary: Edward is an actor, hounded by paparazzi and fans. His financial advisor Jacob invites Edward to stay with him and his family in Houston. Can Edward hide in plain sight and will his relationship with Jacob’s wife Bella tear a close-knit family apart?

Normally I shy away from the older Bella, younger Edward story lines. But Hide in Plain Sight had three elements that won me over 1) Edward was an actor 2) He’s British and 3) its set in Texas.

Ok I’m in!

HiPs is seriously my new favorite WIP, it starts with an exhausted, and sleep deprived Edward Cullen whose career as an actor seemed to have skyrocketed out of control. His financial advisor, Jacob Black, offers him his home as refuge from the paparazzi and to get much needed rest.

During his first weekend with the Blacks he easily connected with Jacob’s wife, Isabella. He didn’t see her as an older mother of a teenager, he simply saw a beautiful woman he wanted to know better.

This must be Jake's daughter.

"Hello, I'm Edward Cullen, a client of your father's," I said brightly.

The girl stood silently gaping at me.

I guessed that she knew who I was.

I also guessed that she was in complete shock at seeing me standing on her doorstep.

Her mouth worked soundlessly for a minute. Then she suddenly whispered "No. Fucking. Way."

I sighed inwardly. I was used to fans reacting this way toward me. It didn't really faze me anymore. At least she wasn't trying to rip my clothes, or having me sign her breasts with a Sharpie.

There was sudden movement behind the girl as someone admonished her for her language. Then the door opened wider as the woman appeared.

I was confused. Surely this couldn't be Mrs. Black. The woman standing before me didn't look much older than I was. How could she possibly have a teenaged daughter?

She was small and slender, with wide brown eyes and lush dark hair pulled up into a simple twist. Her tailored clothes were elegant without being fussy, and simple white pearls stood out against her lightly tanned skin.

She is lovely, I thought to myself in the moment that my eyes took her in.

Jacob Black was a lucky man, indeed.

Then she did the most unexpectedly hilarious thing. Her soft pink lips parted, and she whispered the word "Motherfucker," so softly I couldn't believe for a minute that I'd heard correctly.

Her hand immediately flew up to cover her mouth, as her eyes gazed at me in shock. A flush bloomed across her cheeks and spread down her neck to the little collarbones that I could see peeking through her blouse.

I couldn't help myself. I felt laughter bubble up inside me at the incongruousness of the attractive, elegant woman before me, and the word she had just uttered.

As her daughter screeched beside her, I attempted to diffuse the distress she was obviously experiencing by introducing myself.

She quickly murmured an apology and invited me inside.

"I'm Bella. Bella Black," she said softly, extending her hand to shake mine.

As I grasped her hand, I felt a surge of current pass between us.

What the fuck?

Edward and Bella formed an easy-going friendship that later helped him as he battles his addiction to pain killers. But for Bella her new found friendship with Edward only reinforced something was wrong with her relationship with Jacob. He treated her like a person where her own family saw her as dull and boring.

Even though Bella is married I love her connection with Edward, it was instantaneous and sweet. He treated her with respect and even tried to get Jake to see he was treating his wife more like a maid than a partner.

And if you’re looking for a hot sex scene… then you’ll love chapter 10!

In all seriousness this is a great WIP and you will fall in love with British Edward and a Southern Bella. I seriously do a happy dance everytime I see an update alert for this fic.

Enjoy!

Banner by JaimeArkin

Completed Fic of the Week: 8/13-8/19

Perchance to Dream by FantasyMother and Lilliput

 http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5137507/1/Perchance_to_Dream
Reviewed by bbwraven

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

Summary: The Cullens leave Forks after Edward encounters Bella, but he never forgets her. Meanwhile, Bella has vivid dreams about a man whose face she cannot see. Does destiny have something in store for them? AU, OOC. Co-written by Fantasy Mother and Lilliput.

If you’re an avid fanfic reader like me then you’ve come across your share of stories where the first chapter has potential and you hope and pray it gets better. Or you recommend a story to a friend with the warning “the first few chapters are shaky but gets really good after chapter….” Sounds familiar?

The opening paragraph of Perchance to Dream instantly captures your imagination for once I felt as if I was really in a vampire’s mind, finally able to view the world through their eyes and then you realize it was all a dream from Bella’s point of view.

In PtD you see Bella lives a self imposed lonely existence only finding solace in her studies, books, and her odd dreams. After her brief encounter with Edward she begins to have dreams about a faceless man whom she dubbed Dream Lover.

Edward abruptly fled from Forks and never returned after Bella’s first day at Forks High. While his family worried about his lack of companionship and isolation, he found peace each day dreaming of being close to his singer Bella.

What I loved about this fic was the way the writers Fantasy Mother & Lilliput was able to make the dream sequence and reality blend almost feeling tipsy without taking a drink.

I wove my fingers into his hair and pulled slightly, tilting his head back. I put my lips to his ear and said in an almost growl, "Damn it, why can't you be here?" He moaned and moved upward. Yes. Here.

"I'm right here, love," he said as he wrapped one arm tightly around my waist and moved a hand up to my shoulder, pulling me down to him.

A sob escaped my throat. "But you're not," I choked. "You're not really here. I want you here. With me."

Can you feel the intensity? I have to say it’s been a long time since I’ve found a story that depicts the strong connection between Bella and Edward both on a mental and physical level. And if you’re not into WIP, you’re in luck because Perchance to Dream is completed. So you can enjoy all the naughty goodness in one shot!

Completed Fic of the Week 5/28-6/5

We Don't Break, We Bend by LyricalKris

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5508413/1/

Review by bbwraven

Summary: When the man who’s supposed to love them hurts them, and the people who are supposed to save them won't listen, it falls on their shoulders to not just survive, but save each other.

**Caution: This is an angst filled fiction dealing with physical, emotional and sexual abuse.**

I don't remember how I found 'We Don't Break, We Bend’ but I thank my lucky stars I did. This isn't your typical fic where Bella and Edward fall in love. It's a story of three teenagers growing up in an abusive home and despite the fact they never know when they're guardian James will explode, they still manage to create a family.

Social outcasts Jasper, Edward and Bella learned to depend on each other and everyday they survive means its one day closer to the freedom they long for. When the trio meets Alice they learn to hide both their physical and emotional wounds from her and her family.

LyricalKris managed to create a dark and real situation where you're captivated from the opening paragraph and you don't stop until you've read every chapter. Like most fics each chapter begins with song lyrics, and when Lyrical used 'Bent' by Matchbox Twenty I knew this fic owned me.

When I was a diehard Matchbox Twenty fan and like any fan the song was on repeat but I constantly thought of romantic relationships gone wrong and letting the new person you're not all there. But I saw 'Bent' in a whole new light after reading this fic, as if Kris was saying no matter how many times Jasper, Edward, and Bella were beaten, they always found a way to put themselves back together.

I simply found each character had some form of bravery and they held each other together when life was getting worst. I love when the characters in a fic come off the pages and become real in my eyes.

Jasper's head had been lolling on the couch cushion as he caught his breath from the exertion of getting his shirt off. He rolled his head in her direction, his eyes opening just enough so he could look at her. He swallowed a couple of times, licking his dry lips so he could talk. "I'm not broken, baby girl. I bend really well," he promised.

The situation Kris wrote about is a painful subject, and even though I read ‘We Don’t Break, We Bend’ months ago it still has the ability to make me cry simply because I could feel their pain, confusion or joy and sometime all three. It’s the only way I know how to explain it. Please check out this fic!

Banner by cellacullen