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

September 30, 2010

The Dick in Me by FL95
Rating: M
Genre: Humor/Romance
Characters: Edward/Bella

Summary: A continuation of "Edward Cullen, Dick for Hire" - What happens when the love of your life becomes your partner in crime solving? Will Cullen & Swan survive their latest case, or better yet, working with each other?

So it’s no secret that the prequel to this story Edward Cullen, Dick for Hire is a fav of mine, so when I saw that there was a sequel, I was ecstatic! This story is an exploration of the relationship that was established in Dick for Hire, between Swan and Cullen, living together, running a business together and balancing family together. The prologue sets the tone for where this relationship has evolved in the readers’ absence.

"Y…" she started, confused at my reaction, I'm guessing. "You don't like it?"

Was she fucking kidding me?

"Swan," I stopped myself, trying to come up with a polite way of putting that shit.
Too late for that, my friend.

"This shit is…fucking…"

Girly?

Frilly?

Fucking foo foo like a motherfucker?

She arched an eyebrow and I mentally scolded Eddy Jr. for even considering that shit while I was in the middle of trying to be sensitive and shit.

"Not me."

Edward is trying so hard to find a balance between the personal and professional relationship that he and Bella have, but it is not an easy thing to do when the case of a missing airline heiress is dropped into their lap. They have been hired by the father of the missing girl, Eleazer Mendez, and have a distinct feeling it’s connected to one shady businessman Aro Volturi, whom Edward is much too familiar with. As the investigation starts they encounter everything and anything from a mysterious blond who knows more that she is letting on, to a shocking car bombing that will leave our Private Dick reeling.

Then I saw what exploded.

"Mother of…"

"Oh, man…Eddy…" Emmett said and shit if he didn't actually sound a little tiny goddamn sympa-fucking-thetic.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me.

Our favorite characters from the first installment are present and accounted for from Pup to Seth, and of course, Jazz! What is different and has me captivated about the evolution of Edward and Bella’s relationship is the dynamics of change and what each is beginning to picture for their future together. The characters are funny and insightful, and the plot is well thought out and keeps you on your toes. The humor alone is enough to draw you in and a love for the characters is what keeps you spellbound.

We pulled up to the speaker to place our orders and once I was done with mine, Swan was once again, staring at me with disbelief in what I'd just told the guy I wanted.

"Well," I said to her, nodding my head at the speaker. "Tell the man what you want."


Her mouth was doing this twisty turny thing and I just chuckled at her ass while she looked for something….anything on the menu that she could order without sounding like a complete perv.


It was priceless.


'Cause this was gonna be good, ladies and gentlemen.


She finally made her mind up and mumbled into the speaker, trying not to let anyone around us hear her, 'causing the faceless wonder on the other side to ask, "Could you speak up, ma'am? I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you."


Ma'am.


That shit's funny.


I was shoulder bobbin' at her predicament and Swan wacked me in the shoulder.


My bad one.


"Ow, fuck," I said, rubbing it out as she leaned in closer to the mic so the teeny bopper could hear her better.


"I'll have a…" she hesitated and I had to cover my fucking mouth to stop from laughin' again.


I mean, shit…I still laughed, I just didn't want her to see me laugh, that's all.

"Deluxe Dick, please….number three, no pickles."


Dying, my friends. I was completely…and utterly fucking dying.


"Can you repeat that?" the kid on the speaker ask

This story has had me laughing so hard that I have tears, while biting my nails and yelling at the screen. It’s a fic that I drop any and everything to stop and read when it updates. It is 8 chapters in and we are just getting started folks. Please, go and read and in the words of one Edward “The Dick” Cullen. En-motherfucking-joy.

BellaLove72's Rec of the Week: 9/27-10/3

September 29, 2010

Pistols and Petticoats by saltire884
Reviewed by Bellalove72
*This story is no longer available*

Rating: M
Genre: Western/Drama
Characters: Edward/Bella

Summary: In a drunken gamble by her father, Bella finds her future wagered to town loner, Edward Cullen. But with stakes this high, how much will Bella lose, or will chance be on her side?

Lurking on Twitter late one night, I saw people asking saltire884 about her new fic. I didn’t know she was even writing one, so I asked her about it and she sent me the link. First of all, it’s called Pistols and Petticoats, the name alone sucked me in! The Old West and images of a gun-slinging, cowboy hat wearing, Edward, flitted through my head. She had me hook, line and sinker within the first three paragraphs! Or should I say, roped, tied and branded! I DM’d IndieFicPimp immediately, calling “dibs” on this little gem before someone else got to it first! Then I finished reading the four posted chapters, all before reading the updates of my favorite fics, still sitting in my box waiting to be read! And even though I quickly discovered, that Edward is not the Cowboy, but the Indian, saltire884 had me convinced that it was in fact a very good thing!

Pistols and Petticoats is saltire884’s first venture into being a fanfiction author; and she has blown me away! The details and descriptions she uses throughout, really make you feel like you’re in the Old West. I half expect a tumbleweed to come blowing across my laptop while reading. She’s doing a fantastic job of telling this tale and I personally can’t wait for more!

Saltire884’s characters are very refreshing. You will not find a “Shop-a-holic” Alice or a “Perfect” Rosalie here. Some of the characters are a complete opposite of what you might be used to and it’s perfect for the story and way it all fits together.

Pistols and Petticoats takes place in Deadwood Creek, Montana in 1889, where we are first introduced to Isabella, who is hiding from her “Pa”. Charlie’s character is mean and condescending, a very ill-tempered drunk who spends his days at the Deadwood Saloon, drinking and gambling. Still living at home at the age of 20, Charlie wants nothing more than to marry Isabella off to the highest bidder.

Michael Newton is the wealthiest man in town. He is ruthless and the townfolk fear him; of course this has all gone to Newton’s head, filling every ounce of his ten-gallon hat, and he’s all the nastier for it. He’s had his eye on Isabella and is tired of playing games. He intends to make her his, and demands to marry her. He’s causing somewhat of a scene in town, when town outcast, Cullen, appears to save the day.

As the son of a Comanche mother and a white father, Edward Cullen wasn’t welcomed by the townfolk as a boy, and quickly learned to steer clear of them. Edward has lived a life of solitude on his ranch, only venturing to town for supplies. His only friend is his dog, Masen. The relationship between Edward and Masen, is utterly heartwarming. Masen is definitely a character not to be missed, and plays a great role in many scenes, not only with Edward, but with other characters as well.

This Edward might not be the Cowboy of my musings, but saltire884’s description of him makes it all worthwhile!

“He was wearing tan buckskin trousers with fringe down the side and a dusty blue woven shirt. Strange white and red beads hung around the open neck of his shirt.


A hide belt around his slim hips housed a tomahawk axe and a hunting knife, which was nestled in a buckskin pouch with frayed edges. He looked every bit the savage that the townsfolk claimed him to be.”

Hello? Buckskin trousers with fringe down the side? Dusty blue woven shirt? A tomahawk axe and a hunting knife on his hips? His hips?! Call me crazy, but my CowboyWard image doesn’t hold a candle to that of ComancheWard! I’ll take buckskin trousers with fringe, over a ten-gallon hat any day! And Savage? Kill me now!

But I digress… (ComancheWard does that to me!)

So, Cullen witnesses Newton giving Isabella a hard time and intervenes. Of course, Newton’s cronies come a’running to defend the honor of their boss, and shoot at Cullen a couple of times. All the commotion ends up getting the attention of the local law.

Sherriff McCarty prides himself on upholding the law in his town, dismisses the whole debacle, telling the men to all be on their way. Isn’t that an awesome job for Emmett? The town Sherriff? I think it’s perfect!

Before Charlie can hand Isabella off to Newton, he ends up drunk and broke at the saloon with nothing to allow him to stay in the poker game, until he realizes the men at the table have interest in his daughter; and he offers her up in the game. It’s his turn to win, right? And all the men will go in, since such a grand prize is on the line. He’ll win all their money and will still have Isabella when Newton shows up. Win-Win. Accept it isn’t.

This is Edward and Bella’s story to tell. How they grow and come together with a storm brewing in the horizon. How tight they will hold on to each other when the storm hits. And in my opinion, it’s full of WIN!

So, are you curious as to what will happen next?

Find out by reading Pistols and Petticoats! You won’t be disappointed!

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

September 28, 2010

Righteous and Wicked by cherry.blossomz

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



Summary: Bella is a reluctant school teacher, stuck stagnant under a looming shadow from her past. Edward is an architect striving to overcome his vices by running from them. Will they strive for a righteous path, or spiral into wicked depths?

I was recently rec’d Darkness, cherry.blossomz’s first fic by a friend. I read it over one weekend, barely coming up for air. I couldn’t wait to read more from her. As it turned out, she had just started her second story titled, Righteous and Wicked. The title alone intrigued me, and once I began reading, I couldn’t stop. The writing has a beautiful and unique cadence to it. The short views into the lives of Bella and Edward alternate throughout the well-formed chapters. cherry.blossomz’s work is rich with unique symbolism and descriptive imagery. She successfully takes her readers on a mysterious, UST filled journey of the most wicked kind.

Edward and Bella are obviously and painfully flawed. Bella lives what might be considered a mundane, lonely existence as an elementary school teacher at a Catholic girls school. She seems to be barely tolerating her job and life… simply going through the motions of existence. A painful past has been alluded to, but the details remain a mystery.

“She sleeps, she wakes, she works. She sleeps, she wakes, she works. She looks in the mirror and wonders who it is that is staring back at her, and remembers the person she once saw there. A full heart. A hand to hold. A future and a room to paint. She wakes, she works, she sleeps…alone.” - Chapter 1

Edward is Bella’s enigmatic new neighbor, having grown up in Forks, has now returned to build a house next door to Bella.

“He wonders if the choice he has made is the right one, but will allow himself to feel no regret. He gets into a limousine and stares out the window at the endless, blurry green. I'm not running, I'm moving on. He lies to himself and he believes the lie.” – Chapter 1

Edward’s demons are obvious from the beginning. If Bella is the Righteous one, you are left to assume that Edward is the Wicked one. And wicked he shall be... from eyeing up his friends fiancĂ© (Rosalie) to using a woman at a nightclub. As layers of the story are slowly peeled away, we realize while he may have company, he is truly lonely.

“His uncontrollable fury spreads through his body and leaks from his pores. He begins to sweat and it drips on the girls breasts. Her legs wrap around him, and her back slams against the stall door. "Oh, fuck me…fuck me…"she chants. The door creaks and threatens to burst open against the weight of Edward's violent thrusts. He reaches up and grips the top of the door for leverage, and holds tightly to the girl's thigh. He pumps even harder now. She tells him to go slow, but he doesn't. She says she's going to come and he doesn't care. He feels himself coiling up inside, and he knows the end is near. His mouth waters in anticipation of the few moments of real pleasure—the delusional bliss that comes with his release.

The only time he really feels alive.

"Fuck," he curses and groans loudly as he comes, then quickly sets her down. The girl pulls her skirt into place and he buckles his belt. They both catch their breath. She holds his face. She tries to be tender. She wants to kiss him and he pulls away. He has no more need for her. She doesn't ask for his phone number. He doesn't look at her or say goodbye as he walks out the bathroom door.”: - Chapter 2

Bella is desperately drawn to Edward, this man she refers to as Stormy Eyes. Edward’s character appears as the antithesis to hers. Secretly searching for him, she listens to his lustful interactions. Slowly, Bella finds herself seduced by his hunting and satiation, yet envious of his prey. cherry.blossomz offers her readers incredibly textured characters with depths that are sure to be revealed. Edward is a complicated man whose wants and needs duel within him. Beautiful Bella forces his gentle heart and mind to the surface. With Bella’s past still a mystery, we are left trusting her pure actions as truth of her character. However, hints of her past love and loss are peppered throughout, leaving you pondering her demons as well. Were these two souls brought together by fate or a higher power to help each other heal? And in doing so, will they find everlasting love?

At eight masterful chapters, Righteous and Wicked is a work in Progress. I urge you not miss a moment of this literary journey.

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

September 27, 2010

Hide in Plain Sight by FangMom
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

Slight Change in Plans

September 24, 2010
Starting this week, we will be doing our new recs every Monday instead of Fridays. Enjoy your weekend and see you Monday!!

One Shot of the Week: 9/17-9/23

September 21, 2010

Blue Dress by algonquinrt

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

Summary: Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference. 1970s Edward for The Age of Edward Contest. Rated M for profanity and ascorbic acid content over the FDA's RDA.

Writer Submitted Fic: 9/17-9/23

September 20, 2010

Beyond the Seventh Circle by Amelie Gray
Reviewed by Dragonfly336
 

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

Summary: Gift!fic for YellowGlue. "He looked down and watched as her toes curled nervously in their rainbow-striped socks, and he knew right away he shouldn't trust her." Rating because I am paranoid

Do you ever read a story and you are instantly sucked in? Yeah, this is one of those stories. Do you ever read a story that is so different from the other stories that you have read and get so excited about it, that you want to tell everyone to read it? Yep, this is one of those as well.

Amelie Gray has written a truly unique story with Beyond the Seventh Circle. This story started off as a prompt fic. She was given this sentence to start: “He looked down and watched as her toes curled nervously in their rainbow-striped socks, and he knew right away he shouldn't trust her.” And you can’t imagine what she has come up with.

One of the things that I loved about it, is that she pulls you in, giving little snippets of what is happening so that you are constantly questioning and need to keep reading to figure it out. I can tell you that this definitely pulled me in:

The usual fee-nothing more, nothing less," he told her, averting his gaze from her translucent skin and the blue veins pulsing beneath the bright pink of her blush. He had not eaten in days, and the rush of her blood was more tempting than anything he could have imagined. The familiar burn, deep and cutting, set into his throat, and he found that in spite of the fetid air, he couldn't breathe.

She said nothing.

"Jasper did tell you what to expect?"

It is hard to review this story without giving too much away and that is half the fun of reading it. I can tell you this... it is a Darkward fic and let me be clear, this is a deliciously, dark Edward. But, not only do we get Darkward, we also get a dark Jasper and Alice. For some reason, I love a dark Alice!

When I opened them, Alice was standing in front of me, a dangerous smile curling her lips. In that moment, she no longer looked sweet and young. She was a she-devil, a demon in sheep's clothing and painted nails.

This Bella is different too. There is something special about her, and not just because she is Edward’s singer or the fact that Edward can’t hear her. At one point she describes herself as a Circe. I had to look this up and found that a Circe in Greek mythology is a minor goddess of magic that transformed her enemies, or those who offended her, into animals through the use of magical potions.

This story is 13 chapters in and has 276 reviews. It deserves so much more. Amelie is such a talented writer. Her prose is beautiful and the imagery is fantastic! So, please read!! And in the words of Edward:

"Started the party without me?" He asked, every word coming out in a dangerous purr. "Seems like I need to catch up."

And, that you do!!

Banner by JaimeArkin

Brand New Fic of the Week: 9/17-9/23

September 19, 2010

Love Within the Realms of Existence by fluffynuts

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

Summary: “Every incarnation that we remember must increase our comprehension of ourselves as who we are." -Aleister Crowley

“I feel a strange sense of familiarity and ease with Edward. I have only become acquainted with him a month, but it seems as though I have known him a long time. It's a weird sense of dĂ©jĂ -vu or something. Like our paths have crossed before.” - Bella

Remember that show that started in the 80’s, Quantum Leap?

Oh, come on, who doesn’t love Scott Bakula running through time?

I digress. Anywho, what if I told you that there was a story that I could only describe as, Quantum Leap meets Twilight plus awesomely crazed sex romps? I bet your ears perked on that one.

For this fic, I only have three words.

Bring. It. On.

Oh, wait...No, now hold on....I have three more words; I need more.

The story begins with Edward as Bella’s contractor that is redoing her kitchen, but the second chapter shows us a married Edward and Bella with two young girls.

This tale is going to introduce us to different Edward and Bella’s meeting in alternate universes.
Fluff shows us that no matter what cosmos Edward and Bella rendezvous in, they will always have crazy, sexy, good, lemonade for us to sip on.

After the second chapter was posted I never saw so many repeat tweets in my life. No, not Retweet but repeat tweets. They all looked a little something like this, “I won’t be able to look at olive oil the same way.”

I swear I counted at least eight of those in my feed and I promise, YOU won’t regard olive oil the in the same light again either.

“Falling in love with Bella is probably the easiest thing I ever did. I still fall in love with her every single day, every moment. Every flip of her lustrous chestnut hair, every little impish smirk she flashes me. Every Christmas Eve when we are both up until midnight, setting up dollhouses and easy bake-type ovens. I fall more in love with her every second of my existence.

Being in love with her feels as easy as breathing. Even when our lives are busy, we never take each other for granted. There's the stolen kisses sitting on the couch on movie night when the girls aren't looking. There's the pats on the asses at my mom and dad's house when Dad is droning on about America's Healthcare system.
I look into Bella's loving coffee-colored eyes and it feels like I've loved her from the beginning of time. I don't know how that's possible but from our first date together in college. Every touch of her, every kiss from her sweet lips; feels like home to me. We've always felt like two pieces of a puzzle that were always meant to be together” -Edward

Not only does the first two chapters show that Fluff knows how to write some inventive and amazing lemons, but this story has true promise of being a unique and off-the-wall fic that will have us all wondering and chatting about what the hell is in Fluff’s mind.

In an incredibly good way of course.

I have my own theory on what Fluff is doing for us, but, come on and join Fluff’s wild ride; It is a guaranteed good time. You will not be disappointed and I’d bet money you put olive oil on the top of next week’s grocery list.

Banner by JaimeArkin

Completed Fic of the Week: 9/17-9/23

September 18, 2010

Dream A Little Dream by the.littlest.ingenue

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

Summary: All Human. Lots of fluff: What if the man of your dreams wasn't a dream at all? What if he was closer than you think? M for language and implied stuff. No angst, I promise.

Imagine this…your boyfriend breaks up with you. You get in a fight with your husband. You get a flat tire on your way to work. You spill coffee on your favorite shirt. After a horrible day, you finally make it home and all you want to do is change into comfy clothes and read something to take your mind off the day from hell you just had but you can’t decide what to read.

Well, look no further than Dream A Little Dream by the.littlest.ingenue. This funny, heart warming and whimsical story will lift your spirits if you are having a bad day and will make a good day even better. The writing is extraordinary and you will find yourself sucked in from the first word and it won’t let go until you get to the last one.

We begin this little tale with Bella and Angela discussing the ritual held on St. Agnes Eve where it is believed you will see your future husband in a dream if performed correctly. Bella’s best friend Angela…and let me tell you folks, this is the best Angela you will EVER find…convinces her to partake and with much resignation from our very sarcastic and super funny Bella, they sit in Bella’s back yard and prepare to see their future husbands.

Of course, Bella dreams of a certain bronze haired, green eyed, chiseled jawed image of perfection. And it takes time for this particular vision to come to fruition…years in fact. But Bella never wavers in her belief of something more and her dream husband searches for her just as much.

I laughed. I cried. I spit my drink out on my desk. Dream A Little Dream is short. Start to finish, it took me about an hour, but I promise it will be the best sixty minutes you will ever spend reading FanFiction. I can tell you, I will be reading, and rereading this story many times over…so many times I bet I have every word memorized and each time I will fall in love with it even more.
It’s that good.

Banner by JaimeArkin

WIP of the Week: 9/17-9/23

September 17, 2010

Beautiful Nightmare by Simone and Marie
 http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5908974/1/Beautiful_Nightmare
Reviewed By Marriedmyedward

Rating: M
Genre: Drama/Angst
Characters: Jasper/Alice

Summary: It took only one night, one action, for Jasper's world to be shattered. Will Edward and Co be able to pick up the pieces or will newcomer Alice be the one to stop the nightmares? Not your average fairytale. Jasper/Alice A/H Some non canon couples

Before I even start my review I just have to say this...Because of Simone and Marie, I'm now a fanfic hoor!...and I thank them for this lol. It was their story Sex on Fire that got me hooked. Then about halfway through SoF, Simone started a story of her own (with Marie's help of course) called Beautiful Nightmare. This is what brings me here today...

I'm more of a E/B pairing myself, but because Simone and Marie were involved with this story, I had to give it a try. I'm so glad that I did because it's such a wonderful story.

Beautiful Nightmare is a J/A pairing. Jasper has a 2 year old son named Charlie Jackson (CJ) and Jasper is raising him on his own after his wife, Eve, is brutality murdered in their home. This story starts off almost a year after Eve's death and shows the struggles that Jasper is having emotionally over the sudden death of the love of his life. He struggles with the fact that he hasn't really told his 2 year old son that his mommy is never coming back and debates whether he should tell him or not. Also, Jasper is told by his friends that maybe it's time to move on and find somebody else. This upsets Jasper even more as he still has strong feelings for his wife, even in death, and feels like if he gets involved with anybody that he would be cheating on Eve. Around Thanksgiving, Alice shows up in town because her car broke down in front of where Emmett works. Emmett calls Jasper to see if he could look at the car, as he owns a car shop. He sends out Paul, one of his mechanics, to take a look.

It turns out that Paul and Alice get along pretty well and Paul decides that he is going to bring Alice to Thanksgiving dinner the next day, so that Alice wouldn't be alone for the holiday. The same Thanksgiving dinner which Jasper will also be attending. What poor Jasper isn't aware of is that from that moment on, his whole world is going to be turned upside down and he will find himself questioning everything in his life, including his marriage to Eve.

All of the characters involved with this fanfiction are wonderful, but the characters that capture my heart most, well, Jasper for one, but the interaction of a certain little 2 year old and his Uncle Eddie is what totally captures my heart. I find myself giggling away long after I read the update.

CJ nods as he replies, "Okay but Aunt Heidi says he needs to settle down and find a good woman to wash his underwear."

For the second time that night, I choke on my dessert as Edward practically sprays out his soda everywhere in shock,

"Aunt Heidi said this?" he asks CJ while trying to hide the shock in his voice.

"Uh huh to Uncle Em." CJ replies while swirling the ice cream in his bowl.

"Lovely." Edward replies simply while I try to stop laughing like a madman.

Oh boy, I would hate to be Heidi when Edward catches up with her, although I would love to be a fly on the wall for that particular conversation.

"What else did your Aunt Heidi say, bud?" I ask curiously.

"That Uncle Eddie has too many play toys." CJ replies and this time, I cannot hold it in, and I burst out laughing much to Edward's chagrin.

"Play toys huh?" I smirk in Edward's direction.

Edward rolls his eyes as he replies, "You shouldn't listen to everything your Aunt Heidi says, she spends too much time watching Dr. Phil."

I catch Edward's attention and this time mouth 'play toys?' in his direction, even though I really didn't want to know what he did with them, even though I had some kind of idea.

Edward shrugs in my direction before he mutters, "It's not like I bring any around."

"Uncle Eddie can I have some of your play toys, you always tell me to share," CJ asks and I gape open mouthed at him before looking at Edward who has turned a shade of pink.

"Um..." he says.

I jump in to save him. "Er, no buddy, they aren't the type of toys you'd want to play with," I tell him as I wipe the excess ice cream from his face.

"Are they not rated E for everyone like the TV says?'

"No bud, they're rated E for Edward," I say while I try to hide my smirk.

This story is amazing! I can't stress that enough. I find myself going “How would I react in this situation if I lost my husband or if my husband lost me how would he react?” It's just heartbreaking at times but it's like I always say...In order to see the light, you have to go through the darkness first. Trust me...there is much darkness Jasper has to go through but continue on with the story and I promise you won’t regret it.

So read read read peeps and spread the word because Beautiful Nightmare should be read by EVERYONE!

Banner by JaimeArkin

One Shot of the Week: 9/10-9/16

September 14, 2010

The Peanut Butter Sandwich Man by readingmama

Rating: M
Genre: Romance
Characters: Edward/Bella

Summary: Edward Cullen is a man of routines. When a homeless girl distracts him from said routine, Edward finds it is time for a change. Reviewed on the Southern Fanfiction Review! An Alice Followup is coming soon.

Writer Submitted Fic: 9/10-9/16

September 13, 2010

Light Of The Morning by alisXvolatX21
Reviewed by Dragonfly336
 

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

Summary: He felt forgotten. She saved him. He felt lost. She showed him the light. He felt alone. She loved him. Edward Masen is a reclusive senior in high school who puts on a rebel facade. Bella Swan is a free-spirited junior who wants to branch out. AH AU OOC

At the beginning of Light Of The Morning by alisXvolatX21, we meet Bella. She has lived in Forks her whole life and her father passed away when she was 13. She lives with Renee, who was devastated after Charlie died. So she becomes the typical good girl, but she is sick of her image.

She is constantly tormented in school by “The Bitch Squad,” which consists of Jessica, Tanya, and Victoria, for her good girl image. Bella is ready for a change and her best friend Alice is going to help her. Alice compiles a list, dubbed "The Cherry Bomb List," of things that Bella needs to change before the first day of school. I love the interactions between this Alice and Bella, especially when they are talking about the list. This interaction is where Bella’s naivetĂ© really shines through.

"But I touched it, doesn't that count for something?"

"No, not really. Did you stroke it or anything?"

"Uh, no. I kinda just poked it."

"You poked it?"

"Yeah, I poked it"

"Wow, Bell."

"What is that bad or something?"

"Yes, it means that you have no experience, at all. We are going to have to fix that."

She said as she pulled out the list that was now in her bag and she most likely wrote down; "Teach Bella to properly poke a penis."

When we meet Edward, we learn that he has not had an easy life.

I am forgotten. I am alone. Everything I do and say is fucked up. My life is fucked, therefore, I am fucked.

He is not originally from Forks. He lives with his father, Aro, who is a drug addict and abusive. Even though he lives in these conditions, he is a good kid. He gets good grades and doesn’t get in trouble. He has a part time job. But we also know that he has lived through something even more terrible.

"Edward, honey? Come out from the under the table. Everything is going to be fine."

Mom. I could hear her voice, her sweet fucking angelic and beautiful voice. Calling me to her, but I couldn't see her, everything was a blur, as if I had been crying.

"Teddy, please. Hurry baby, before he comes back."

I started to see her kneel down to the ground as she lifted up the green tablecloth. Her prepossessing face came into focus. She was beautiful even though she was fucking bleeding from the corner of her mouth and her cheek was black and blue. Her green eyes that mimicked mine stared mournfully back at me with a single tear coming out of her right eye.

But they were gone all to quickly as she disappeared from my focus. Then in her place was a pair of black fucking harsh eyes.

"Edward, is it?" his nefarious voice said as he fucking smirked at me.

He has finally had enough of his father and calls his Aunt Esme to see if he can live with her and his cousin Jasper. She agrees and he sets off to Forks in his old, rusty, red truck. He eventually meets Bella, but it isn’t the typical “love at first sight” meeting. But as the story progresses, we see that Edward cares about her and her well being.

There are many things that I like about this story. One of them is that alisXvolatX21 shakes things up a bit. It is refreshing to not read Edward being rich and driving a nice car. It is nice to see that Bella actually has a crush on Emmett, who happens to be Alice’s twin brother. I like the fact that Edward drives an old red truck and Bella has a Volvo. Dr. Cullen is Alice and Emmett’s and is a psychologist. He was married to neither Esme or Elizabeth, but to Charlotte, Who happens to leave him for his younger brother, Peter. We also meet Jacob Black, who happens to not be such a nice guy.

Please go read this story! It is humorous as well as angsty, so everyone is happy! There are only 67 reviews and that is just a shame! You won’t regret it!

Brand New Fic of the Week: 9/10-9/16

September 12, 2010

GiofĂłgach by ltlerthqak

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

Summary: I didn't know anything was missing from my life until I met him at the carnival. Were my gypsy lifestyle and unbelievable gift too much for him to accept? And was there something bigger we should have been watching for? AH

GiofĂłgach translates to gypsy...

“Once I reached the parking lot, I walked towards the open field just beyond the cars, hoping to catch a breeze to help clear my head. I suddenly stopped halfway across the lot, captivated by a scent that almost knocked me to my knees. It was sweet - with a depth similar to caramel, a hint of rain and just a slight whisper of vanilla. I felt my stomach clench and my body lock in place as the aroma encompassed me.


There were no thoughts, no sounds – just a feeling of completeness I had never experienced before. I stood for seconds, minutes, hours…it could have been a lifetime for all I knew as time ceased to exist. At some point, I realized the scent was dwindling and I began turning in a circle trying to locate the person with such an amazing essence. I stumbled in and out of the rows, back and forth through the lot, trying to pinpoint the glorious aroma.”

The Twilight gang as gypsies...um, yes please, may I have some more?

This story is way more than incredible for so many reasons, but the Twilight crew being a band of carnies that travel the country doing county fairs has to be one of the most interesting and awesome set ups for a story in fic, period. Bella and Renee meet Phil at a carnival and this Renee, true to canon, follows her heart and has her, “let’s go where the wind takes us” attitude and they end up joining Phil on the road.

Bella and Renee embark, along with our friends, Alice, Esme and Emmett, in the life of a gypsy and about seven years later is where this story begins.

Another reason this story is more than awesome is this Bella. Not only does Bella have purple streaked hair but she, in this all human fic, has powers. You see in the incredibly well written and descriptive quote above that Bella becomes overwhelmed by a smell. She is clairvoyant with the power of her nose. To Bella, each person has a distinct scent and she can also sense things from smell. For example, when Renee and Phil met, Bella knew she was smelling fíorghrá, or true love.

That’s why this story becomes incredibly interesting when she smells Edward.

Bella has already smelled/sense Edward, but here is the powerful moment where she finally meets the man behind the crippling scent;

“If there was one thing I would remember about that night, it was the tranquility that surrounded me. Time slowed down as I reached my destination and there was suddenly no movement in the air. The man at the table turned to greet me. When his eyes met mine the world stood completely still. No breeze, no sound from Alice's jumping, no laughter from the passing patrons…just stillness.


He rose slowly from the table while staring at me with a shocked expression on his face. I felt this undeniable pull towards him, as if nothing else mattered but bringing our bodies together. He must have felt the same tug because we both took a step forward, my measured movements a mirror image to his. My foot landed on something unsteady, and I stumbled slightly forward. The man's hand grabbed my upper arm to steady me, and we both gasped.


As we made contact for the first time, I was inundated by a kaleidoscope of sensation. It was as if the sky exploded into pink and purple sparkles. The scent of warm caramel and rain surrounded me to such an extent that my mouth watered from the taste of it in the air. An electric current ran up and down my body and the only sound was the beating of my own heart as it tried to pound its way out of my chest. I stopped moving and allowed my senses to deal with the overwhelming stimulation encircling me.”

Most Bella’s are portrayed as perceptive girls, but this Bella is not only perceptive but is sure of herself and that’s a wonderful change of pace for this fandom.

The way the author writes this power of Bella’s alone is reason enough to read this story. The descriptions are beyond beautiful and the author really knows how to take advantage of all your senses. That’s a difficult trait for even the best writers to posses and it appears to come naturally and effortlessly for ltlerthqak.

This Bella knows this Edward is for her and I’m anxious to see her power and their relationship unfold and how they will mix.

“My relatively empty mind suddenly focused on one thing…Edward. My fĂ­orghrá.”

Completed Fic of the Week: 9/10-9/16

September 11, 2010

Six Silent Goodbyes by VivaViva

Rating: T
Genre: Family/Hurt/Comfort
Characters: The Cullens

Summary: Bella never got a goodbye from each of the Cullens in New Moon... right? New Moon, canon

Like most card-carrying Team Edward members, New Moon is my least favorite book. The first time I read it, I tore through the Jake bits in six hours in sheer blind hope that Edward WOULD return, and that ALL the Cullen’s would return to Bella. New Moon still is a heartfail and a half for me. It’s the one book in the series I won’t read again cover-to cover. To be honest, if I do pick it up by chance, I just read the Italy bit.

So, when I was asked to do an alternate New Moon story, I was apprehensive. There’s hardly any Cullen-y goodness and it was bad enough reading the original. Until I heard about VivaViva’s Six Silent Goodbyes; an alternate New Moon story focusing on how the Cullen’s feel about leaving Bella after the birthday party fiasco. Jackpot! That’s exactly what I want to know!

Did anyone protest this decision? What about Alice? She would see all this play out in her mind of course, so how does she deal with the fact she is losing a future sister? How does Jasper feel? Is he guilt-ridden over the fact that he let his bloodlust affect him for a split-second, changing the course of his adoptive family’s fate and Bella’s future as well?

The story is short and a complete. It sucks you in from the first chapter which is Alice’s goodbye. The author does an incredible job of setting up each point of view. VivaViva describes the little nuances and details of a specific memory that each of the Cullen’s have about Bella. It puts the reader right in the memory and in the mind of the narrator.

You can also see how this decision affects Edward from the Cullen’s point of view. There’s a very bittersweet moment between a worried Jasper and a completely broken-hearted Edward in Jasper’s study. Get your box of Kleenex, girls!

“What he needs is Bella.”


“Edward let out a soft, keening whimper. He whirled around to face the door jam, resting his forehead on the frame and tangling his fingers into the bronze strands of his hair.”

We all know in the book, when Edward tells Bella goodbye, he is stoic and distant. But, it’s when he is around his family in this tale, the chinks in his armour show. The author is brilliant in giving us what the reader wants to see; the humanness of Edward and our favorite family of vegetarian vamps.

The chapters that really affected me were the Esme and Carlisle goodbyes. Esme, the eternal mother figure, becomes distressed at not being able to find a photograph of Bella. Of course, with her keen vampire mind, she doesn’t need a photo of Bella to remember her by. But she’s yearning to find a solid piece of evidence of a period in time when her disaffected son Edward was blissfully happy in his immortal life.

Edward explains to the family that Bella just doesn’t belong in their world. But Esme recounts a memory when Bella not only fit in their world, but enhanced it.

“If I was the heart of the Cullen family and Carlisle was the head, then Bella had the soul and she didn’t even realize it.”

I’m teary-eyed as I’m writing this. Esme’s account is the most riveting, and heartbreaking. She watches her grief-stricken son try to let go of his ‘reason for existing’ and he’s coming undone right before her very eyes. Her chapter emanates her motherly spirit and nurturing soul that is often taken for granted in Meyer’s books. For this chapter alone, you need to read this story.

Carlisle’s goodbye is soft-hearted and tender just like the kind doctor himself. He remembers a time when Bella and Edward were just “Bella and Edward”. Observing an intimate moment between the star-crossed lovers in a hospital exam room. He remembers a happy time when they just enjoyed being in love and together.

“When their gazes locked, I knew they were a million miles away. Even surrounded by the cold, impersonal aura of a hospital buzzing with chaos and sickness, they managed to light up a room.”

I’ve given you a taste of this story, but there’s plenty more amazing moments between this solid family. You walk away from this story knowing that even though it’s a family of vampires, they have incredibly strong bonds to each other like another family. They love, care and stick by one another- through thick and thin. Most importantly, they hope for the best, just like any other mom, dad or sibling would when one of their own is trying to do the right thing. In the end, even a vamp wants a happy ending. Fortunately, we all know what happens in the end.

Banner by JaimeArkin

WIP of the Week: 9/10-9/16

September 10, 2010

Ă‚me Soeur by ange de l'aube
Reviewed by Obsmama

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

Summary AH/OOC. Edward and Bella are haunted by dreams. Dreams about a past that is not even theirs. Or is it? Their worlds will turn upside-down once these two lost souls find each other. Is this really the first time they have met?

Ă‚me Soeur translated from French means soul mate. We are thrown into this story head first as it is full of love and sadness; confusion and pain. When we meet Bella and Edward at the age of 15, they have both been plagued by dreams that have haunted them their whole lives. They have managed these nightmares in drastically different ways. Bella’s parents, Charlie and Renee, have taken her from therapist to therapist seeking an answer to these disturbing dreams, finally making the decision to move back to Renee’s hometown of Forks, where the sad and unhappy Edward has spent his life hiding these nightmares from everyone, only confiding in his trusted cousin Alice. By the end of chapter one, as the Swan’s are descending into Forks, we learn not only that Bella and Edward both have nightmares but they share the same one.

The words, like the ones in the phrase book she had read the night before, called to a part of her that she could feel was buried deep down. She read them again, whispering them only loud enough for her ears.

"Why do you love me?"

Meanwhile, Edward Cullen was still sleeping in his bed. He'd had a rough night and his mom had allowed him to sleep in, not a common occurrence in Esme Cullen's military-run house. He turned in his sleep, placing his body face down in the bed. He started to mumble while his mom picked up the laundry that was in the basket just inside his bedroom. When she was about to leave Edward's room, trying to close the door as quietly as possible, she heard him mutter in his sleep,

"Because I have no choice…"

As the chapters progress, we, the reader, are treated to a wonderfully descriptive third party narration that not only expresses the pain and struggle of these teens but also captures the beauty of the landscape around them. With all the fics out there set in Forks, it’s easy to get tired of the trivial descriptions of the foliage and the green surroundings. The author has an amazing use of imagery from the ticking of a clock to the storm raging outside.

Bella sighed; the symphony of rain increased in tempo, slowly morphing into a new movement that included the whooshing of wind and the scratching of the claw-like branches of the tree just outside the window. None of those sounds was truly conducive to sleep; none of them were part of Bella's mental library of sounds. They were all foreign. Yet with all the time she lived in Seattle, she had never felt more at home, more at peace, than she did in Forks, even given some recent developments.

As the Swans get settled in, a curious event happens, and the dreams for both Edward and Bella stop with no apparent rhyme or reason. Their lives carry on and the first day of school descends. Our characters finally meet one another and the intensity is apparent from the beginning as they lock eyes and know immediately that there is something special about the other. The author does an impeccable job of really conveying the immediate and instant change between the characters.

Bella Swan stared at the boy that lay above her – first with shock – then with intrigue. She searched his forest green eyes and his flawless features with interest. Instead of being annoyed, she felt an awareness, as if a dormant part of her soul, an absence that had nagged at her consciousness her whole life, had finally awakened.

A sense of recognition screamed through each mind: "You!"

Suddenly, all the little things that had seemed so important just seconds before didn't matter any longer.

The rain outside intensified, the wind howled making the tree leaves swirl in a wave of green, but neither Edward nor Bella noticed. Inside each psyche, the relentless countdown – stopped.

The tick tock finally ended. There was only silence. There was only them.

Mysteries abound as characters interact in some interesting ways, furthering the plot. After a movie night at Bella’s new friend Alice’s house, a shared nightmare emerges for Edward and Bella and they discover that what they thought was their solitary battles are shared. We see that they are playing out the battered and torn relationship of Anthony and Marie, two lovers who have broken each other beyond recognition.

“I still love you," Bella heard her new voice answer him in barely a whisper.

The boy turned away in response to her words, causing her heart to crack. Before Bella could comprehend the pain, the boy abruptly turned to face her once more, and in a small trembling voice, he replied, "I still love you, too."

Bella felt her breaking heart suddenly swell with joy. She was stunned; the feeling was overwhelming, as though happiness had been missing from her life for so long it was foreign.

"It's irrelevant," the boy with Edward's captivating green eyes continued. "No matter how much we love each other, all we ever seem to do is hurt one another. At this rate we'll end up killing each other. Is that really what you want, Marie?"

"No," Bella heard herself reply meekly. Then she saw a hand she did not recognize – though obviously attached to her body – reach out and grab the boy's hand. "But this year apart nearly killed me, Anthony. Please…" she begged, squeezing the boy's hand in hers. "A life without you is no life at all."

The plot thickens as Bella is introduced to Edwards’s mother. A violent interaction occurs deepening the questions that both Bella and Edward have, as mysteries unlock; new ones come to the surface. Who were Anthony and Marie? Why do they seem to be haunting two 15 year olds? The story is 11 chapters in and the characters are on the same road to discovery as the reader. I am looking forward to seeing how this will unfold, what characters we will be introduced to, and how this will affect our Edward and Bella as they begin this romance that not only feels like a lifetime in the making but has transcended death. Is this the meaning of soul mates?

One Shot of the Week: 9/3-9/9

September 08, 2010

Exclusively by BoydBlog

Rating: M
Genre: Romance
Characters: Edward/Bella

Summary: *WINNER - TFLN Contest* Edward was a sexual predator. The bars and clubs of Manhattan were his hunting ground. Would he let the ultimate prize slip through his fingers?

Writer Submitted Fic: 9/3-9/9

September 06, 2010

The Ride by Aylah50

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

Summary: Bella and Edward meet at a concert as teenage strangers during the height of grunge in the 90's. When their paths cross 14 years later, Edward is stuck in the past while Bella is fleeing from hers.

As a child of the 80’s and 90’s, I have a certain love for music from those decades, particularly the grunge era of the 90’s. That’s one of many reasons why I absolutely adore The Ride by Aylah50.

We open with Edward going to see the band Live perform in 1996. While there, he meets a beautiful mysterious girl whom he is strangely drawn to. They have a very brief, yet extremely intense five minute interaction, after which Edward turns to talk to his siblings and turns back to find that the girl had disappeared, he looks for her, but never sees her again. In the second chapter, we get to see the beginning from Bella’s point of view, but it ends on a far more ominous note.

Fast forward just over a decade to thirty year old Edward going about his life in NYC and yet not really living. Edward gave up on his dream to be a musician, and settled for a business degree. He is now stuck working 9 to 5 at the Engineering business he started with his brother, Emmett, and brother-in-law, Jasper right out of school. He’s not happy at all with his solitary existence as he wanders through his daily life, bored to tears.

One day, Emmett convinces him to go to his gym, where he decides to take a spin class, led by a woman he finds extremely familiar, but he just can’t place. He instantly feels drawn to her and her connection to the music she uses for the class, much the same taste as his own. Of course, we eventually learn that the mystery girl is Bella, and we set off on a journey, which slowly uncovers where they first met and what really happened to Bella that night that traumatized her and changed her life forever.

This is an extremely well written story and Aylah50 does a fantastic job of dealing with the ramifications of Bella’s trauma. The night terror flashback scenes do get very intense and it makes you really feel what Bella went through. It’s a beautiful story of pain, healing, and fate, and is a definite must read!

Brand New Fic of the Week: 9/3-9/9

September 05, 2010

Who Says You Can't Have It All by phoenix fan1
 http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6202913/1/Who_Says_You_Cant_Have_It_All
Review by KylaPricky
 
Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Supernatural
Characters: Edward/Bella

Summary: Edward can't stand that Bella has to sacrifice so much to marry him and become a vampire. He is determined to find a way to give her everything she never knew she always wanted. AU/OOC/canon pairings. Rated M for language and lemons.

This story begins with Bella and Edward’s four year old son asking his mommy why she and daddy are always so cold...

This fic is a completely different spin on the last book in the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn.

I’ve heard a lot of people in this fandom complain about the connection or lack thereof between Edward and Renesmee in Breaking Dawn. Well, if you were one of the many that was really hoping to see a Daddyward that made your girly insides pang, I’m happy to say, you’re in luck.

What if Edward had found out during his time in South America, when he left Bella in New Moon, that it was possible for a vampire and human to create a child? What if Edward had done everything in his power to make sure Bella wouldn’t miss any life or rather human experience?

But the most important question this fic summons is; what if Edward had longed to be a father?

This story tugged on my heart strings from the very second that Bella explains the happy little family life that Edward and her have created. She talks of sweet whispers with her husband as they watch their little symbol of life and love sleep peacefully.

There is just something about a good daddy, ain’t there ladies?

The next chapter takes us back to about a month before Bella and Edward are to be married and that’s when Edward drops the bomb on her. He asks Bella if she would want to have his child.
Of course Bella is blown away by this question. She had always thought it was not even possible for her and Edward to conceive, so the thought of a baby had never even crossed her mind. She worries that it’s a ploy to keep her human for longer. But Bella can’t help but start to wonder, what it would be like to have a child with the love of her existence.

I love this story for many reasons, but the main one is this Edward. He seems much more human in his inner monologues than one sees in most vampire fics. He definitely, no matter how sweet or in love with Bella he is, still has the seventeen year old boy hormones that I personally just love to see,

“I laughed. "Not quite yet, Love. But in twenty-seven days…" I trailed off and then wiggled my eyebrows at her. She gaped at me and her demeanor quickly changed. Suddenly she wasn't so irritated with me.

"Edward Cullen, you are such a tease," Bella said in a flirtatious tone.

"I'm not teasing you baby, I'm promising you…" This beautiful creature was going to be my wife in less than a month and I wanted to flirt with her.

I always tried to keep up the facade that I was a dignified man. I tried to pretend that my Bella's beautiful, sexy body didn't call to me more than even her blood did at this point.

I tried to act like every touch from her didn't turn me on. I tried to pretend that I didn't desperately need to rush home to take an inappropriately long shower every morning after spending the night with Bella in her bed.

Now, more than ever, knowing that our wedding night was so close, I felt more and more like a horny seventeen year old who just wanted to throw Bella down on the bed... or on the floor… or on the grass in our meadow… or–...”

This Edward also wants to be a father. Not just for Bella’s sake, but for his own. He loves Bella and he wants to create a family with her and I think that is so unbelievably touching and I also think that the canon Edward would have felt that way if he had found out Bella could have a baby any other way than how he found out in the real, Breaking Dawn.

I’m so very anxious to see how this story unfolds. Bella and Edward have just discovered that them having a baby is possible and they have decided to jump through all the hoops they have to get their family. And I really can’t wait to see what all they do to prepare for a family and I’m beyond excited, as I know most of you would be too, to see them try for a baby.

“Well, I can't guarantee that we'll get a boy, Love. But I will do my best to make all of your dreams come true." “And all of my dreams, too.”- Edward

And ....cue the swooning...Now! Go. Read. It’s only three lovely chapters in and see what Edward could have been like as a heavily involved and heavily affectionate ovary busting daddy.

Completed Fic of the Week: 9/3-9/9

September 04, 2010

The C Word by happymama
 http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5903178/1/The_C_Word
Reviewed by Kimpy0464

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

 Summary: Settled into a life of perfection with the man of her dreams and a brand new baby, Bella is diagnosed with cancer. Rated M for swearing and potential moments of intimacy. Very short story.

In real life, I’m a pediatric ICU nurse. I’ve also worked at the Department of Health in the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program. When I run across fics like The C Word, it never fails to make me stop and pause. I’m especially fond of stories that get medical situations right; The C Word is one of those stories.

I live on the other side of this story, treating children who have cancer. I’ve had friends who have had cancer. I myself had a scare with it recently, which required a biopsy. To say that this story had an impact upon me is almost too mild. It grabbed me, forcing me to pay attention to the other side of the equation—the human side. Behind every diagnosis is a person, and happymama forced me to look

The C Word is the story of Edward and Bella, and their infant daughter Renesmee. Their lives are happy and fulfilled after the birth of Ren; they had to work hard to even conceive her. Four months after she is born, however, their happy ever after comes to an abrupt halt—one day, while they’re having sex, Edward feels a lump near Bella’s nipple. Here’s how happymama describes the circumstance:

Four months later, during a rather intimate moment, Edward felt something odd.

"Stop," he whispered. "Stop for a minute."

His tone scared her, and Bella immediately ceased moving at all. She wasn't even sure she wanted to move to breathe.

"What's wrong?"

Her voice was nervous and scared, and there was a tinge of hurt behind it. Had she somehow hurt or disgusted him, she wondered.

Continuing their path, his fingers worked in a circle around her breast. The closer they got to her nipple, the harder it was for Bella to hold in the moan; his touches were so light, so tender and loving on her skin.

Noticing his furrowed brows framing a look of concentration, she repeated herself. "What's wrong, Edward?"

"There's a..." He searched for the words. He was a doctor, after all, he should be able to tell her this easily.
 "There's a small lump."

I can tell you from experience, it doesn’t matter how much you know about medicine; when it affects someone you love, your reaction is personal and unprofessional. It’s as if all your training goes out the window in a moment like that.

One of the constants in this story is Edward’s ardent love for Bella; happymama’s incarnation is classic Edward—fiercely protective, loyal, loving. It isn’t as though this fic is full of heavy—there are definitely moments of levity. When the chestnut brown hair that he loves so much falls out, she chuckles to herself that “At least I don’t have to pay for a wax.” It’s important to keep a sense of humor in the face of tragedy. You can either laugh or cry, and the laughter is better for you. Seriously, happymama just gets it:

When she was close enough, he explained. "I want nothing more than to touch you, sweetheart. I want to touch you, love you, remind you of how sexy you are, I promise." He placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "You're just not strong enough yet. I promise you, when we've kicked cancer's ass, I'm going to give you the best weekend of your life. You'll be begging me to stop."

They laughed together, for the first time in months, it felt like. It had been so long, too long.

The C Word is most definitely an indie fic—it has only 63 reviews, which is a complete and total shame. Granted, it isn’t a happy topic, but it does deliver a lovely HEA with one of the most satisfying lemons I’ve ever read, because it is so well deserved by these two. It’s an important story for everyone to read, because at some point in most of your lives, you or someone you love will be affected by cancer. Maybe not breast cancer per se, but cancer nonetheless. This story helps to prepare you for the journey many people face when their doctor utters the C word to them: Cancer. In fact, I’d like to make this rec a PSA of sorts—it should be required reading for every woman in the Fandom. Read it. You’ll ultimately be very glad you did.

Banner by JaimeArkin

WIP of the Week: 9/3-9/9

September 03, 2010

We All Fall Down by AddiCakes
Reviewed By Les16
*This story is no longer available*

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

 
Summary: Edward, Bella, & Alice swore they would be best friends forever. When one of them falls, will she take the other two down with her? "Ashes, ashes, we all fall down." AH

When you click on the button to under AddiCake’s profile to add this story, or click on a link from another site to this amazing piece of work, be prepared. She tells you straight out, up front, that this is a story that deals with suicide and mental illness and it’s not for the faint of heart. If you can get past that, then strap in for a bumpy, but amazing story of friendship, love, and healing.

The prologue sets the stage, with haunting imagery as it shows Edward, Bella, and Alice as children, happily playing a game we all have played at one time or other. They sing:


Ring around the rosie,
A pocket full of posies,
Ashes, Ashes,
We all fall down!

How many times have we all sung those exact same words, never really paying attention to the meaning? In Addi’s story, obviously, one of them falls, leaving the other two to try to move on without them. They are innocent children, oblivious to the pain and heartbreak they will encounter as adults. But innocence never lasts and children must grow up.

There is glorious use of imagery in this story, meant to evoke strong emotions. With sentences like: On occasion red and brown would clash—for they were both such passionate people, even then—and the black-haired girl would step between them to forge a bridge of peace. The story begins with death then moves backward showing what lead up to the fateful moment. It’s painful to read, for you can see the signs clear as day, but that is often the case with suicide. That is also what our beloved Edward and Bella must navigate through as well.

In the midst of all this, we have Edward…adorable somewhat dorky Edward who is madly in love with his best friend Bella. He has no idea when his feelings changed for Bella, but knows unequivocally they have. He is terrified of admitting his feelings for fear of ruining their lifelong friendship, but knows the time has come when he must admit what he feels because going on much longer the way he has been isn’t an option.

AddiCake’s Bella is no shrinking violet either. She’s snarky and feisty and she happily abuses Edward when she feels the need to do so. The three friends live together in a rundown apartment that they have turned into a home…thanks in great part to Bella’s obsessive need to clean. Edward enjoys the fruits of living with two women especially the clean bathroom.

The glimpses we see of Alice’s unraveling are heartbreaking. Her despair, her anxiousness about failing her classes, the despondent way she acts during a blind date Bella has set up for her…all are clues to the impending spiral we know is coming. We know there is a break up with Jasper, but there is way more there, bubbling just beneath the surface. You want to reach through the computer screen and wrap her in a warm hug and then run to Bella and Edward and warn them.

You also want to shake Edward and Bella because the feelings they have for one another are so blatantly obvious to all around them except to them. It will be interesting to see how those feelings manifest themselves as they deal with the loss of their best friend, the mediator and buffer between them.

We All Fall Down is only a few chapters in but is already set up to be a wonderful story of healing and love and learning to trust that being friends can be a wonderful base on which to build a relationship. The clues are there that Bella and Edward learn that lesson, but there is no doubt it will be a painful one as well. Give this story a try, it’s well worth a few tears to take this journey with them.