Completed Fic of the Week: 3/7-3/13

The First Time by evenflo78

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6073585/1/The_First_Time

Reviewed by RaeCullen

 

Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Tragedy
Characters: Edward/Bella

Summary: A classic tale of boy meets girl. Join Edward on his trip down memory lane, from first sight to the inevitable seperation of death, and everything in between. AH/AU M for adult content and language.

The First Time is a short and sweet yet incredibly heartbreaking tale of firsts for Edward as told through his incredibly sweet, shy and tender-loving eyes. His love for Bella is palpable and jumps out of each chapter and grabs hold of your heart to the point where you think it will never let go.

The first time I met her...

She asked my name, and I said Edward Cullen offering her my hand in greeting. When I asked for her name in return she laughed and the sound was delightful, like wind chimes on a hot summer day or the ting, ting, ting of rain against your window at night. Magnificent.

The first time I kissed her...

My eyes closed of their own volition, and Bella giggled when my lips met the side of her nose. I chuckled nervously, stuffing my hands into my pockets and stumbling back a step. What a tool I was. I couldn't even kiss her right.

The first time we made love...

I knew from books, not experience, that first times were painful and rather anticlimactic for the female party. And that simple fact gave me heart palpitations. I didn't want to cause her any pain, especially if she wasn't going to be getting any pleasure from it. And the fact that I undoubtedly would, made it all the more dismaying. Nothing that ever caused her pain should bring me joy.

I love the way this story is written - short but incredibly perfect and engaging. Evenflo doesn’t need a lot of words, the way she uses the English language to shape this story tugged at my heart and took my breath away. This story was as beautiful as it is tragic, and by half way through I was crying into my cup of hot cocoa. Evenflo does an incredible job of capturing the beauty of love and the all encompassing ache of grief. This story isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you wish to read something well written, and don’t mind shedding a few (or a dozen) tears, then I definitely recommend this story!

Banner by JaimeArkin

Completed Fic of the Week: 1/10 - 1/16

Little Plastic Castle by Yogagal

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6484653/1/Little_Plastic_Castle

Review by RaeCullen

Rating: M

Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Drama

Characters: Edward/Bella

Summary: Even the best built castles sometimes fall. In a coffee shop, in a city...two people struggle to remember how to put those pieces back together.

In a coffee shop in a city
Which is every coffee shop in every city
On a day which is every day
I picked up a magazine
Which is every magazine
Read a story, and then forgot it right away
They say goldfish have no memory
I guess their lives are much like mine
And the little plastic castle
Is a surprise every time
And it's hard to say if they're happy
But they don't seem much to mind
- Ani DiFranco - Little Plastic Castles

It’s no secret that I adore YogaGal as both a person and a writer, so when I found out she was writing another fic I was immediately on board! She warned me that it was going to be quite a bit different from her usual and that it was going to be very (very) angsty. But that didn’t matter to me because I love having my heart stomped all over! I knew it would be amazing, and I definitely was not disappointed.

Little Plastic Castles takes place over a day’s time. We follow Edward and Bella (each chapter alternates from each of their POV’s) throughout their day. There’s not much I can really say without giving too much away because Yogagal does a magnificent job of writing this story in such a way that provides a bit of mystery about what is going on with these two, but brilliantly puts in little details and hints to have your theorizing until finally all is revealed. She had my stomach flopping, my heart twisting and the tears rolling. Yoga’s writing is brilliant, beautiful, heartbreaking and had me begging for the next update. There is no doubt about it, Little Plastic Castles will break your heart, but it hurts so, so, good. 

My head hangs low through most of the meal, but once I finish, I allow myself to look up. A few of the other tables are occupied, some with couples, others with just one person like myself. Nobody catches my eye, though, so I push my chair back, ready to leave and go back to the solitude and familiar comfort of my place.

As I'm about to stand up, my eye catches the daisy on my table and something tugs at the back of my brain. A fuzzy image of a couple racing through a meadow, laughing. The girl runs behind a large tree as if to hide, but the man immediately finds her and they fall into the dewy grass, dotted with daisies. I strain to make out their faces, to no avail, and when the sound of a nearby chair scraping across the linoleum pulls me out of my head, I notice my hands are clammy with sweat beading at my temple.

I struggle to catch my breath and take my napkin to wipe away the wetness that has spilled over onto my cheek .

With only 14 chapters and each chapter at about 1k in size, it’s a quick and lovely read. So please, please (I’m not beyond begging) check it out! You won’t regret it.

Brand New Fic of the Week: 12/6-12/12

Interview with the Vampwhore by SnowWhiteHeart

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6481545/1/Interview_with_the_Vampwhore

Reviewed by RaeCullen

Rating: M
Genre: Humor/Romance
Characters: Edward/Bella

Summary: Bella Swan's best friends are determined to get her laid- poor girl needs to loosen up. Vampire Edward Cullen has been a *very* bad boy, and is now paying the price. Warning: very silly. M for so many reasons

When Lori asked if I could review this brand spankin’ new, silly story I readily agreed because the summary instantly grabbed me and had me arching my eyebrow in curiosity. Vampward as a male prostitute? Oh hell yeah I’m definitely intrigued.

So far, it appears Edward has gotten himself into a bit of trouble with our favorite villain, Aro Volturi. So instead of being executed, as we all know is the typical Volturi way, Edward has made a deal – he owes Aro 100 years of servitude at his ‘hen house’, The Pointed Aro, as a sex slave/prostitute/male whore – whatever you want to call him.

So then, of course, there is our lovely Bella, whose friends decide she needs to loosen up so they pay for her to get a “massage” – which of course is not what it’s going to be at all. She just doesn’t know it yet. Just wait till you see what SnowWhiteHeart has done with the girl we love to hate, Ms. Jessica Stanley (*gigglesnort* Oh just wait).

Interview with the Vampwhore is only two chapters in but is full of promise of hilarious and silly scenes. I’m definitely excited to see where she goes next. Our favorite twosome has yet to meet, but I can almost guarantee it’s going to be interesting and hilarious.

If you’re looking for something silly and fun you should definitely give Interview with the Vampwhore a read!

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RaeCullen's Rec of the Week: 11/29-12/5

A Room With A View by ShortHappyLife

 http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6326472/1/A_Room_With_a_View
Reviewed by RaeCullen

Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Humor
Characters: Edward/Bella

Summary: Endless scripts to read, a tyrant boss to tolerate, and a rather lackluster personal life. It was a good thing Bella Swan's office provided the perfect view of the building's hotshot lawyer. Now if only they'd share more than a glance each day. E/B

I’ve been on a search for a fic that makes me giggle, grin and flail around like an idiot for quite some time. I wanted something sweet and genuine; something that would help me fall in love with Edward and Bella again. I’d all but given up when I stumbled upon A Room with a View. From the moment I started reading I knew I hit the jackpot. It literally has EVERYTHING I’ve been searching for (sweet, funny, snarky, adorable). Not a chapter has gone by where I haven’t been giggling so much I’m practically squealing and smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.

A Room with a View is entirely BPOV, and I have to say this might be my favorite Bella EVER. Her internal monologue has me snickering and laughing. I wanna be this Bella when I grow up!

I was nervous. I do not get nervous. Actually, that's not true; I get nervous when I have to speak in public, and when I'm in a really crowded elevator, and when I'm driving on a tall bridge and it shakes because a big truck or something drives across it at the same time. That freaks me out. Yeah, I'm afraid of bridges. Shut up. It's a legitimate fear called gephyrophobia. You can google it.

*snort*

I just wanted to lick him. I refrained. Outwardly, at least. In my head I was treating his stubbly jaw like a lollipop.

*giggle*

Did I seriously fall back asleep while Edward was naked in the shower? What the hell Bella? Priorities woman. You can sleep when you're dead.

See what I mean? Bella is awesome.

This story has a wonderful cast of characters that are well developed and I love seeing Bella’s take on them. Aro – her incredibly anal and eccentric boss will have you laughing and raging at him all at once. Her co-workers, Kate and Garrett, add a wonderful dynamic to her working environment. Then of course there is Jasper and Alice – and this time its Jasper who is Bella’s BFF and I gotta say, I love it! They are hilarious together.

Jasper appeared at my side. "Hey, Edward."

They did the little handshake half-hug that is taught in the guy code handbook. They had one, too; I was sure.

"Hey, man." He turned to me then. "So Jasper called me hot lawyer man?"

I rolled my eyes. "Oh my gosh, you're obsessed. I'm going to put these in water," I gestured to the flowers.

I moved toward the kitchen while Edward came in and took off his suit jacket.

Jasper snickered, "I'm pretty sure she even has you in her phone as 'Hot Lawyer Man.'"

"You suck, Jasper, you know that? You're no longer my best friend. I'm demoting you."

Honestly, why did I keep him around? Next time I saw Alice I was telling her that he doesn't really have a lumpy pillow; he just keeps his baby blanket shoved under the pillowcase.

Then of course there is Edward, a.k.a. Hot Lawyer Man, (insert huge fucking swoonhere). Usually lawyers are arrogant little fucks, but not this Edward. He’s confident, but has a shy undertone when it comes to Bella that is so completely adorable and sweet it makes me flail around like a fool and want to put Edward in my pocket and keep him forever.

Eventually I gathered myself and gestured to the office behind him, "Well, uh, I'm just there, so…"

"Oh! Right." He scratched at the back of his neck as he stepped aside, gesturing me to my office with an outstretched arm.

I gave him a small smile as I moved past him and he turned to continue down the hall.

He only made it two steps before he swung around again.

I was standing in the same spot he'd left me because I had been lingering in hopes of catching a glimpse of his ass as he walked away (okay, so I might be an ass girl, too. Sue me. That way I can hire Mr. Kissable Lips as my lawyer).

"I'm Edward," he blurted out and then blushed at his outburst.

I smirked, hoping a little swagger would draw attention away from the fact that I was blushing at my earlier thoughts about his ass, "Bella."

"Maybe I'll see you around."

I nodded, "Probably tomorrow." I gestured back to my office, acknowledging the fact that we 'saw' each other every day.

He scratched at the back of his neck again, "Right."

He looked like he wanted to say more but instead spun on his heel and continued down the hall. And indeed his ass was very cute.

So go on and read this story now! Hurry! Run! You won’t be disappointed. That I am positive of.

WIP of the Week: 11/8-11/14

Rapture by AydenMorgen

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5863816/1/Rapture

Reviewed by RaeCullen

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

Summary: In the blink of an eye, her ballet career ended. His as a DEA agent is now on the line and lives are at stake. But when they meet on the dance floor, nothing even compares. Can they work together to stop the Volturi or will rapture tear them apart?

DEA agent Edward Cullen is in the middle of an investigation when he stumbles upon ex-dancer Isabella Swan. From the moment they first lay eyes on each other, the pure sexual energy surges from the computer screen. After breaking a few of his rules and subconsciously dragging her into a dangerous mess, Edward’s ultimate goal becomes keeping Isabella safe. Part of keeping her safe, is putting her at an arms length emotionally. He tries to convince himself, with no such luck, that everything with Isabella is purely physical (silly Edward, when will you learn?).

I’ve fallen in love with Ayden’s characters. Edward is passionate, sexy (did I mention he speaks 3 fluent languages and teaches jujutsu?!) possessive and somewhat of an arrogant bastard, but fuck if it isn’t hot! He’s met his match in Isabella though, that is for sure. She’s strong in so many levels and definitely keeps Edward on his toes.

Ayden's writing is some of the most beautiful and sensual I've ever read (and I read A LOT of fic) and leaves me panting and wanting more.

"You miss the choreography, don't you? Every movement evoking a sensation, every breath telling a story… the thrill of the crescendo… the way your heart would race when it was over and you were sweaty and sated…" He leaned a little closer, mind and body screaming for him to trace the same line her tongue had taken along her bottom lip with his own. He fought that demand, pushing it back ruthlessly. "You miss the way you felt, every eye on you, watching you let go and move…" he whispered instead, talking more or less out of his ass, but certain it was serving his purpose anyway.

He leaned forward again, and brushed his nose along her cheek until his lips met the shell of her ear. That little bit of contact was heaven and hell. An easing of aches and a burning for more all at the same time. "You're beautiful when you move, baby."

Unf. Need I show you more? Yes, yes I think I will.

"Mm… I think I want you under the lights so I can see you when you dance for me again, Isabella. Your hair down, your head thrown back in pleasure, sweat sliding down your body while I watch you chase that thrill that makes your heart beat faster… Does it make you wet, beautiful? Feeling the music deep inside while you move? I bet it does; bet it makes you ache all over with pleasure."

DEAward will make you fall (re: slide) off your chair from all the swooning and sexy dirty talk. He gets off on trying to convince her to beg for him (I'm about three seconds from begging him myself!).

"Beg me, Isabella," he breathed, lifting his hips and grinding his cock into her ass. Her head fell to the side, settling onto his shoulder.

"No."

"Beg me," he demanded through gritted teeth.

"No."

His head bent, his lips attaching themselves to the pale expanse of her neck, so recently exposed to him. Teeth nipped, tongue swirled over soft skin. His hand on her hip held firm, one finger beneath the fabric of her shorts… the others begging to join it and continue south to heaven. "Do you want me, Isabella?" he whispered against her neck. 

*fans self*

Rapture has the perfect mixture of palpable sexual tension, mixed signals and edge of your seat drama, danger, intensity and suspense. What are you waiting for?? Go. Read it now.

Writer Submitted Fic: 10/11-10/17

The Long Walk Home by bsmog

 http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5181787/1/The_Long_Walk_Home
Review by RaeCullen

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

Summary: Broken by his experiences in the Civil War, Edward marches with Jasper and Emmett to Gettysburg. A stolen night's sleep leads him to the girl he thinks could save him, but the battle rages on, and his duty could destroy them both. AH. Canon pairings.

The Long Walk Home has turned out to be one of my all time favorite completed fics. When I first started reading, I had no idea who bsmog was and though I wasn't one for historical type fics, I was looking for something a little bit different and I'm so glad I started following it. Bsmog is a fantastic writer (and an even more amazing person - I know, I've met her in RL!) The Long Walk Home is beautifully written, historically accurate and the characters are so easy to relate to. You can feel every little emotion they have. Bsmog does a beautiful job illustrating the war and what it was like for the soldiers and civilians during the 1860’s. At times, her writing pops off the screen and it makes you feel as though you’re there in the thick of the battle. She provides just enough detail of the war without it feeling like a history lesson.

We’ve been walking forever.

It feels like forever anyway. I can’t remember what it feels like to have one whole day when I’m not walking. Or fighting. We only stop walking to fight. Then we bury our brothers and our cousins and our friends and pick up our wounded and start walking again. Only way a man doesn’t have to keep walking is if he’s hurt bad or dead.

Sometimes I look out at those dead boys all scattered across the fields of Virginia or Maryland and I think I might just like to trade places with them. They just look so peaceful laying there where they fell. Even the mounds of freshly moved soil where makeshift graves mark the final resting place for so many look soft and inviting, though they won’t for long once the scavengers get to them. And their occupants don’t have to walk anymore.

Of course they aren’t peaceful, they’re empty shells that once were men, piled one atop the other in shallow, nameless graves. But I’m empty too, and I still have to keep on walking and fighting.

It begins with Edward, Emmett and Jasper walking along towards another battle. The boys are tired, achy and it seems as though Edward is ready to give up, until they stumble along what looks to be an abandoned barn owned by none other than our three favorite girls: Bella, Rose and Alice. Could Edward, Jasper and Emmett now have found a reason to keep on fighting? Could they have found a reason to come home from that war?

By using multiple POV's, Bsmog gives us a well rounded insight into the events of the story (and the war), which captivates us all the more. The girls are strong and independent, something rare during that particular time period. The boys are young, brave, and exhibit the kind of gentlemanly behavior you'd expect from that particular time period.

So if you’re looking for a well written fic with excellent characterization, passion, action and a bit of heartache stirred in; I definitely recommend The Long Walk Home.

RaeCullen's Rec of the Week: 7/30-8/5

Paper Heart by HezPixie

 http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5827150/1/Paper_Heart
Review by RaeCullen

Rating: M

Genre: Romance/Drama

Characters: Edward/Bella

  

Summary: Bella and Edward fall in and out of love over the course of 5 years. We begin at the end, we end at the beginning and somewhere in the middle, we realize just how easy it is to lose each other along the way. Rated M.

I was rec’ed Paper Heart on twitter by RoseLover24 and LambCullen. Pretty much anything these two tell me to read, I will. So I clicked on the link to the story and decided to give it a go because it was only six chapters and had less than 100 reviews. I like to give lesser known fics a shot (hence the reason I’m blogging on this site =P). Rose and Lambie said it was one hell of an angsty ride, and well, I love my angst!

The author gives the disclaimer within the first chapter that her Edward and Bella do not end up together. (Yes you heard me correctly, they do not end up together). Though my interest was still peaked, because she continues to say: Bella's story is told from the end of their relationship to the beginning, and Edward's story starts and the beginning and ends at the end. Each chapter alternates from Bella’s POV to Edward’s.

I think she’s chosen an incredibly interesting and original way to tell a story. Paper Heart is based off a musical I’ve never heard of, but am incredibly interested to go see now.

Paper Heart is filled with raw emotion, something true and incredibly easy to relate to.

Anger comes first. Flashing, blinding, consuming. It starts off slow, lapping at your lungs and your fingers and your gut, building relentlessly, compelling you to run, to scream, to destroy. Your brain is a jumble of senseless firing synapses and your entire body trembles with the nervous energy of it all, from your scalp to your lips to your toes. You can't sit still, can't eat, can't sleep, can't focus on anything but the wave of rage that drives you to the edge of insanity before it swells and finally, blessedly breaks.

But after that brief moment of reprieve, when you're crashing headfirst into the next mindfuck of emotion, you find yourself longing for those ebbing, electric tides of anger and rage. Because after the anger and the rage comes the pain.

Paper Heart is incredibly well-written, original and evokes a variety of emotions from me while I read (exactly what I want a story to do to me). It’s got a lot of angst, but also some sweet moments too.

Check out Paper Heart if you’re looking for something original and refreshing in a fandom where it is increasingly difficult to do just that. Don’t be scared away by the fact that Edward and Bella end up together. Sometimes love is bigger than us all and take on a life of its own. Sometimes, unfortunately, the greatest loves aren’t always meant to be.

Brand New Fic of the Week: 6/11-6/17

Ugly by Silver Sniper of Night

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5965192/1/Ugly

 Review by RaeCullen

 

Summary: “They say beauty is only skin deep. Well, I’m not sure about that.” A woman who sees the world in perfection and imperfection, and the man who cannot see either find they have more in common than they could have believed.


As some of you may know, I get the pleasure of reading everything Silver Sniper writes immediately after she gets done writing it. Ugly, is no exception. One day we’re talking and she’s all ‘I have this idea for a new story’ and then goes in to explain a little bit and asks me what I think. I immediately fell in love with the idea and pretty much begged her every single day to write Burnward for me and let me read it. Then one day we’re talking again (and honestly, we’re always talking so this shouldn’t come as a surprise) and she tells me she wrote the Prologue. I, of course, start bouncing up and down in my computer chair and begging her to send it to me. So she does. And let me tell you, I’ve never had such a raw and emotional reaction to 400 words in my entire life. I sobbed. Literally I did.

I never used to think about skin. It was simply an inescapable surface that was just there. I should never have taken my skin for granted. It's very important. Touch can reassure, relax and comfort. It reduces depression, anxiety, stress and physical pain. Skin can heal. It helps your immune system, and affects your behavior and moods. Skin is our greatest defense against bacteria and deathly infection.

And it hurts like hell when it's ravaged by fire.

As we find out in the prologue, Edward is horrifically burned in a fire (as this point, we know little to nothing about what happened – how the fire occurred, etc) and half of his face is burned beyond recognition. Yes. You heard me right. Silver Sniper as deformed our precious Edward and I LOVE her for doing it. This is exactly why I love everything she writes. She’s not afraid to take chances and she gives us something completely different and original (If you haven’t read her other fic Eye Contact, go and read it now. You won’t be disappointed, trust me). I’m in love with Edward’s voice – so seemingly strong yet a little bit of self-loathing just under the surface.

In the first chapter, we meet Isabella Swan, a rich, young, beautiful socialite. But she’s so much more than a spoiled rich kid and we see that right from the beginning. It’s almost as though she’s trapped and suffocating in this world she lives in. I love her character because she’s kind, strong, and compassionate.

We were all dolls really, living in our plastic houses. In this town, we were the elite. We didn't need an education; we had enough old money and trust funds to live forever, without lifting a finger. We were expected to look, but not touch, and to pair ourselves off with equally outstanding men.

Yet there was something about being molded in plastic and fashioned like clay that didn't quite sit right with me.


I can already tell, even after only one brief interaction, that Edward and Bella are perfect for each other and will irrevocably change each other’s lives. I’m eager to see just what Silver Sniper has in store of us. One thing is for sure, it’s going to be an angsty ride and Silver Sniper will not disappoint.

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