One Shot of the Week: 3/26/12

Double Team by InTheCan

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6285799/1/

Rating: T Genre: Family/Humor Characters: Edward & Bella Summary: Tryptophan makes people a little loopy on Thanksgiving. A silly fight watching football leads to an interesting showdown.

An Open Letter About Respect

I want to say that I have removed the review and will no longer pimp out the new fic from this week. I cannot, in good conscience, leave it up after the events of last night. I am not going to repeat the events, nor mention any names here.

I have been doing this for almost two years now and never have I been as upset about something as I was last night. I am so proud of what we have created here, and extremely grateful to the people that help me on this blog, from my staff to anyone who has reviewed for us to repeat guest reviewers. It amazes me that these wonderful people take time out of their busy lives to help me and for nothing in return except the feeling of helping out another.

That being said, Jaime has been with me from nearly day one. She has grown so much in her art since she started and I am so proud of her and the work that she does. She is also my good friend and I was so hurt about what was said. We have never consulted an author about a banner that we make and never, ever in the time we have done this, has anyone complained about that, in fact, they are mostly thrilled that we provided that service. I guess I am just a sap in the fact that I like the author to be surprised about the review, and sometimes the banner, that we make for them. I’ve never seen someone be offended that people took the time out of their lives, with no pay, and read their story and review or create something out of it. I would like to apologize to Jaime and Tracy, for going out of their way for this.

There was a proper way to go about the situation. If you do not like something someone has created out of the goodness of their heart, you say thank you. You explain that you have a banner you just love and would rather use that instead. You do it in private. You keep your thoughts to yourself.  I would be thrilled if someone just up and created a banner for one of my stories, what a beautiful form of flattery. 

I just have to say that the overwhelming support that was shown last night for Jaime really touched me and I have to say thank you.

Sincerely,

Lori

aka @Dragonfly336 on Twitter

aka Dragnfli Threethreesix on FB

Completed Fic of the Week: 3/26/12

Torn by TheRainGirl

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6877798/1/Torn

Review by AnonymouslySufferingFromOCD

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

Summary: What if Edward was too late? Twilight alternate ending. Following orginial Pre-BD canon. Rated M for mature, dark themes, and violence. Angst and lemons throughout.

If there is one thing that people have learned about me in the past year of reviewing for Indie, it is that I am not a fan of angst. I feel like there is enough angst in real life and that stories are my way to escape that. Now, that is not to say that I never read angst, or that I never enjoy stories that have angst in them, because I do, I just tend to stay away from those stories. When I read the summary of this week’s Completed Fic of the Week, I will admit, I was a little nervous. That being said, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

Torn starts out at the point in Twilight where Bella leaves to go try to stop James from hurting her mom, making the ultimate sacrifice. The difference is, Edward doesn’t make it in time and believes his Bella to be dead. We find out quickly that Bella isn’t dead, although she may wish to be. Instead, James has taken her and turned her to be a sort of pet for him and Victoria to play with and enjoy watching her do their bidding and become everything Edward wouldn’t have wanted her to become.

James and Victoria turn Bella into the worse kind of monster imaginable, she doesn’t have any true clear memories of her past and James manipulates that to use it to his advantage. He allows her to feed whenever she wants and Bella believes everything that James tells her.

"Well, well, Isabella." I jump at the sound of a voice and crouch down ready to attack, cocking my head to the side to take in the form emerging from the tree line. "If James could see his little pet now, dining like a pig on her knees." 

I lunge without thinking and nearly tackle the familiar man with the accent looming too near my kill. I'm able to get a hold of him even though he's much bigger than me and I pin him to the ground and ready to bite. 

"Ah, Ah, little one." He says calmly as he throws me down above his head and I land on my back with a crack. My feet have knocked a tree into the others. He stands astride me, his feet on either side of my arms. "Calm yourself, little girl. I don't want to kill you." 

Edward leaves the Cullen’s to go searching for James to kill him for taking his Bella away from him, what he finds while tracking him, is almost as devastating as believing her dead.

I know the others now know I'm here. The other three are further away having chased down fleeing victims, slaughtering them as they ran for their lives. Slamming Laurent against a tree, I am surprised at how easily I gain the upper hand. He is strong, but having just eaten, he's sloppy and slow. I try to rip him apart, but then I hear Bella cry out. 

"Mine!" 

I'm too late for the men; most of the dozen are dead. I'm torn between trying to help the last few who will die and my vision of Bella, bloodied and snarling. 

My mind returns to the vision of Bella as I see and hear James speaking to her. "Sweet girl, let's go." He brushes his hand over her cascading dark hair and she smiles at him. I hear him coo, "My little pet" then my vision goes black. 

This story is a short one, only fifteen chapters, and our favorite couple has a lot of angst and drama to deal with to get back to the couple that we know and love, but TheRainGirl does a great job of keeping us interested from start to finish. I have to say I was really impressed with this one, I was warned before I read it that I probably wouldn’t like it, but I am so glad that I gave it chance, I hope you will too.

WIP of the Week: 3/26/12

Collared by irishchicka1

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7719787/1/Collared

Review by Obsmama, JaimeArkin, & Dragonfly336

 

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

Summary: The Volturi brothers have their hands in everything bad...Drugs, Murder & Sexual Perversion. FBI Spec. Agent Edward Masen joins DEA Spec. Agent Isabella Swan in a dangerous undercover operation of BDSM and their own unspoken desires.

Dragonfly336: Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting my friend Obsmama. After we caught up for a bit, she told me of a story that JaimeArkin rec'd her and that she was a few chapters in and really enjoying it. I asked her about it and she read the summary of Collared by irishchicka1 to me. I haven’t read a BDSM story in awhile and one with an undercover Edward and Bella? I was immediately intrigued! I started reading that weekend and can I just say how much I love these characters?

My outburst seemed to break the dam of stunned silence. The sound of Bella's voice raising a couple of octaves higher than normal as she asked, "What exactly does that mean?" Emmett, being Emmett was all too happy to provide answers in near litany of perverse terms. 

 "Paddles, hair pulling, kneeling, ball gags, anal plugs…." 

"Anal plugs….BEN!" Bella shrieked as her boss tried to calmly reassure her, his voice rising with each word to out-talk my idiot partner who never paused in his Wikipedia of BDSM terms. 

"Handcuffs, ropes, canes, sensory deprivation, orgasm control…." 

I pinched the bridge of my nose between my fingers as I felt my blood pressure rise dangerously. Carlisle, ever the observant one, spoke calmly yet firmly rising above the chatter. 

"Edward, I know this is unorthodox…." 

The voices swirled like a tornado inside my head….Bella's fear, Emmett's humor (or attempt at it), Ben's comforting tone and Carlisle's voice of reason. I took a deep breath and centered myself before yelling. 

"Everyone stop for a goddamn minute!" 

Obsmama: When Jaime tells me to read something, I never second guess it. We have such completely similar tastes, as does Dragonfly336. So when she told me she was enjoying this I jumped right in. There were so many moments that Dragonfly336 and I would look at each other and bust out laughing while reading a certain section together. There were also a few times we blushed and giggled LOL. Such a mix of fun and sexy that left me wanting more stories out there that capture humor and sex in such a unique way.

The simple touch of my hand touching her cheek ignites something palpable inside me. Possess. Take. Worship. I search her wide-eyed gaze and see nothing but surrender as my hand slides into her hair, tugging firmly back and she gasps. I was never one to pass up an opportunity; my lips smash against hers as my tongue instantly challenges hers to a game of wicked cat-and-mouse.

Someone moans throatily and I am so centered on this girl that I have no idea which one of us it comes from. Her hands grip my shirt in her small fingers, pushing then pulling…scratching and tugging. I hold her mouth prisoner with my hand in her long tresses and she's giving as good as she gets. Her slender legs unfold from the bar stool and wrap around my calves, pulling me closer.

"Fuck!" I mutter against her lips as our bodies align, crotch to crotch….chest to chest and hands seeking, squeezing muscle and clothed skin as fingers pluck at buttons and rip fabric in frustration. I feel the warm heat radiating from her center and I know she feels me titanium hard and straining denim. Teeth tug soft lips as her hands push the cotton shirt up my abdomen. I pull at the back of the neckline and lift it off, throwing it behind me.

Dark chocolate eyes flit up my chest and search my face as harsh breathes echo around us. There is a pregnant pause between us and my body tightens in preparation for a hitting, kicking scratching kitten. I just know she is probably over-analyzing the situation….or worse yet regretting.

 "Bella….I—"I say, shocked at how low and graveled my voice rumbles out.

"Don't." She says softly, barely above a whisper. My hands immediately go into my hair in frustration as my head drops. They are going to explode. My balls are going to explode due to an extreme condition of blue-balls.

JaimeArkin: This story grabbed me from the very first chapter and I couldn’t stop reading. I mean I did... long enough to tell my friends to go read it too, but then I rushed right back to it. The plot itself is kinda genius, but then throw in the wonderful characters and the excellent writing and I’m hooked. I totally love this Edward. He’s cocky, egotistical and kind of a manwhore, but he’s determined to put the Volturi brothers behind bars and in order to do that, he has to go undercover in a Dom/sub relationship with Bella. The catch is that, while neither has any experience in the BDSM world, they are finding that they just might be enjoying what they are learning. This story has a bit of everything, intrigue and mystery. Funny parts that will make you snort with laughter and lemons... dear god the citrus kills me. It’s hot and sexy and just here read for yourself:

My hands slide up her torso, cupping her breasts in my hands as she moves, languid and sensually up and down my cock. I look down between us to watch my length disappear into her, to prove to myself that this is really happening. 

Seeing my cock shiny and wet from her body forces a guttural growl from my lips and my fingers pluck at her hardened nipples. I'm rewarded with a soft whimper of pleasure from Bella. Her dark hair falls down her chest as she stares at me, liquid brown darkening irises peeking beneath hooded lids. 

One of my hands slide down her body as her rhythm picks up, becoming punishing and harsh seeking her release. I slide my fingers between her wet folds finding her pulsing clit and circle it lazily. I can't keep my dominant nature quiet any longer, it's screaming inside me to get out, but I need her to need it to. 

"How do I feel inside you, Bella? Is it what you thought it would be?" I ask, each syllable rolling off my tongue. 

She moans loudly, but doesn't answer. I can feel the reaction from her body though, I see her nipples contract tighter, I feel a fresh release of wetness from her. "Look at how hard you've made my cock, baby. It feels so fucking good inside you finally." 

Obsmama: Oh god, Jaime! “Seeing my cock shiny and wet from her body “ that line killed me too. I seriously can’t say enough about how fun this story is. We are just getting to the intrigue and danger and I say you grab a couple of friends, like I have, and jump into reading together. Fanfic is so much fun when shared with people you love isn’t it? Thanks for reading with me Lori and Jaime. MWAH

Dragonfly336: *Fans self* God...the citrus!! And let’s not forget one of the HOTTEST Jasper’s ever! Here’s a taste:

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH NOW!" Jasper yells and I swear the walls shake. Bella immediately snaps her mouth shut and glares. Jasper calmly walks up until he's nose to nose with her, smiling darkly as he says quietly "Oh, little girl, I'm going to have so much fun teaching Edward to break that rebellious spirit. You better learn to curb your tongue, darlin', or you'll get us all killed. .Clear?" 

Yes master. Oh.....sorry. *Ahem* Anyways, I totally agree with Obsmama, you must grab some friends! You won’t be able not to, it’s just one of those stories! And it really does have a little of everything, whether you’re an Angsth00r or enjoy fluff! Thanks Jaime and Corie!! It’s great reading with you again!

JaimeArkin: I love reading a great story with great friends and this one is perfect for it! We can squeal over the naughty, laugh over the funny, and hate on those damn Volturi’s. Please go give this story a read, it’s 27 chapters in and updates regularly. You will love it just as much as we do! I’m going to set this last little tease down right here before I go though..

"Bella….Bella, look at me." I whisper quietly. The determination and dark depths of her eyes halt my breath for a moment. 

"Yes, Master?" Her voice answers like a hushed prayer. 

"Bella, do you even know what you're asking? You want this?" I ask trying to get her to see how difficult this will be for her. She's brash, opinionated and stubborn as hell….does she really think she can maintain the subservient nature 24/7 for the next week? 

"As you desire, so do I." She says softly and I slide to my knees in front of her, the weight of what she's offering making me boneless. I grip her face in my hands and curse under my breath as she raises her chin, but her eyes remain downcast. 

"Look at me, damnit!" I seethe and instantly her dark orbs swing to mine. I see no fear there…no wavering. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear I was staring at someone else. I search her eyes and all I see is….trust. She trusts me to take care of her. She trusts me enough to do this and basically put her life into my hands. 

"That's good. You have five minutes to prepare yourself and be in position in the playroom, Isabella." She scrambles from her knees and wobbles precariously on those sexy sky-high heels. "And Bella, the shoes stay on." 

Banner by JaimeArkin

One Shot of the Week: 3/20/12

Magically Delicious by mcgt

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6829186/1/Magically_Delicious

Rating: M
Genre: Humor
Characters: Edward & Bella

 Summary: St. Patrick's Day O/S - After breaking up with his girlfriend, the last thing Edward expects to find at his brother's St. Patrick's Day party is someone new. What happens when you meet the right person at supposedly the wrong time?

New Fic of the Week: 3/12/12

My Sweet Variable by LifeInTheSnow

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7762489/1/My_Sweet_Variable
Review by Les16

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

Summary: He white-knuckles his pen, dragging a line of ink across the page. I can guess which passage he's marking: "All things truly wicked start from an innocence." Hemingway wouldn't have known about us. No one does. Teenage E/B, AH, quasi-dystopian.

Let’s set the stage shall we? On one side, we have Bella, the typical teenager. Likes to hang out with her friends, likes to look at boys, is kind of a nerd … after all she is the captain of the Mathletes, and worries about getting her French translations correct. On the other we have Edward … just your average skater boy with holes in his jeans, bored, and his screen saver is a picture of college co-eds with soaking wet white t-shirts. He’s the New Guy at school and the topic of all the hot gossip. Normal, everyday stuff, right? Wrong. This Edward and Bella are no normal teenagers … instead they have code names Phoenix for Bella and Big Bird for Edward and they are a part of a super-secret, lethal espionage squad.

In this quasi-dystopic environment LifeInTheSnow has created, Edward and Bella have been friends for years, though this is the first assignment they’ll be working together as partners. In their world of sat com’s, where parents are resources instead of mom and dad, and where knowing how to shoot a dart into a man’s carotid artery from a hundred feet away, they are all each other has.

"Do you remember our first weapons orientation?" 

I look up from my French-English dictionary. "Of course." 

"You were all skinned knees. So scrawny." He knocks my feet with his. 

I frown. "And you weren't? We were eleven." 

He rests his warm hand on my shin. "You didn't let me finish. I was going to say no one would have guessed you were such a natural with a pistol." 

"Mhmm. I don't see it as being a natural so much as paying careful attention. It's not like I can see targets the way you do." 

"No. But you control your piece. You stay calm." 

"I guess Charlie always taught me to have a healthy respect for guns. For how dangerous they are." He is fastidious about his service revolver. The first thing he does when he comes home from the museum every day is unload, lock, and store his gun. 

I start to page through my work again, but Edward's comments have started the wheels turning now. I glance up at his face to find him watching me. 

"That's not really what you remember about that weekend, is it?" 

He smiles sadly and shakes his head. He's never told anyone that during our search-and-rescue simulation he came across me half-submerged in a pond behind a deadfall of trees. I was hiding. From the rescuers. From all of it. 

At the time, I'd tried to explain to him about the explosions triggering flashbacks to the fire that killed my mom, but he didn't want to hear any of it. He just waded in—fully clothed—and distracted me with stories about make-believe colonies of elves living in the mossy shadows of the branches. Elves are afraid of humans, he'd said. So they just pretend we're not real. It's easy.

I let myself rely on him so completely that day. If I hadn't been so exhausted and overwhelmed, if my defenses hadn't been down, I would have railed against it. But as it happened, it felt like comfort. It still does. It was like a part of me attached to him the way the arrow on my little gunmetal compass tied itself to the poles of the earth—invisibly, irrevocably.

LifeInTheSnow’s writing is impeccable as always. She has a way of weaving a tale and making the reader feel totally immersed in the story. There’s much going on in My Sweet Variable, and at only 5 chapters in, the story is just beginning. There are already clues, like little bread crumbs, hinting at lots of twists and turns to come.

Edward is complex, Bella is conflicted. The world they live in is not an easy one, but it’s one they must navigate together amidst growing feelings for one another. How will that work? Is it possible? My Sweet Variable is already shaping up to be a hell of a ride, jump on with me and see where it goes! I can’t wait!!

Completed Fic of the Week: 3/12/12

Nineteen Canvasses by Cars1

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5777942/1/Nineteen_Canvasses

Reviewed by AnonymouslySufferingFromOCD

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

Summary: Bella thinks she finally has it all together after a life altering accident, but when she meets Edward, a once successful artist who has lost his inspiration, everything she thought she knew changes. All Human. Rated M for a very good reason.

This week’s story really impressed me. We have all read Artistward stories; after all, it is a great character for Edward and let’s face it, being a brooding artist is so not a stretch for him. However, what we haven’t read a lot of, in fact I don’t recall ever reading, is a story about an amputee Bella.

In this story, Edward is the brooding artist who lost his muse when his live-in girlfriend, a college professor, decided to give some extra credit to one of her students at home in their bed. This sends Edward off the deep end where he can’t paint and he drowns his sorrows in a new woman every night. This is a behavior Edward is familiar with as it is the exact same way his father reacted when he lost Edward’s mother to cancer.

Edward has really lost his way and finally finds a reason to make some changes to his life when he meets up with his friend Emmett for a drink and to meet Emmett’s good friend Bella.

"Don't leave, please?" He sounds sincere, but I know better. 

"There's really no point in me staying," I answer truthfully. 

Some sort of panicked look comes over his face as he moves his hand up my arm. "Dance with me," he demands as he starts to pull on my arm. I yank it back from him forcefully. 

"I don't dance." 

"What do you mean you don't dance? Everyone dances," he says smugly. Oh he's so full of himself, so cocky and oozing with sex appeal. I'm sure women drop their pants in a nanosecond within this mans presence. 

I narrow my eyes at him. "Not everyone dances." 

"What, have you got a broken leg or something?" He laughs. 

I let out a huff at him and shake my head. "Or something." 

Bella, who was on her college’s ski team, suffered a horrible accident while training for an upcoming race. The accident caused her to lose her leg from her knee down. She has had a hard time opening up to people because of her injury and doesn’t trust easily. Her friends try to fix her up, but never tell the guy that she is an amputee, which as you can imagine, tends to shock them a little.

"Oh, thank the Lord." She grabs it and takes a sip. "How was the rest of your night?" She looks at me with concern. 

"It was fine. Went straight to bed. You know, the usual," I say, sitting down in her overstuffed leather chair in the corner. 

"What did he say to you last night? I went to try to find you, but you were already gone." 

"Nothing. He didn't say anything. He didn't have to Rose. And why didn't you warn me Emmett was up to no good?" 

"Don't be mad at Em. He's just trying to help," she says sincerely. I know she's right, that doesn't mean I have to like it. 

"I know he is, but come on, Rose. Someone like Edward is not going to be interested in me." 

These two do things the hard way from the very beginning but they really come to understand that doing things together is better than doing them apart.

The story is well written and there isn’t a lot of angst, which you know is something I don’t deal well with. Cars1 really does a great job of making sure that there is a perfect mix of drama throughout the story to keep you interested, while also giving you enough of the other elements we all love in a good fic to add to the desire to keep reading and not stopping until you’ve read it all.

Nineteen Canvasses has been completed for a while and it truly deserves to have more recognition. I hope you give this one a try, I am sure you will like it as much as I do.

WIP of the Week: 3/12/12

The Search by Amber1983

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7345952/1/The_Search

Review by Dragonfly336
 

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

Summary: When Bella Swan flees to London to escape her painful and humiliating past she doesn't expect her charismatic new boss to be quite so interested in her secrets... AH. Britishward. Rated M for language and lemons.

When I started reading The Search by Amber1983, I was skeptical. Firstly, I am not a big fan of Britishward’s. Secondly, I am also not huge on office romance stories. Lastly, I have been having a bit of fic ADD lately. I keep starting stories, but nothing is really pulling me in and grabbing my attention. Let me just say that I was pleasantly surprised with this story!

The first few paragraphs caught my attention and wanted me to know what happened in Bella’s life that had her staying away from Forks.

During ancient times villagers armed with pitchforks and fire drove suspected witches out of their small towns. It turns out all it takes in 21st century rural Washington is vicious gossip and dirty looks. Six months ago I left Forks and vowed that only a natural disaster or a death could pull me back. I just didn't expect the latter to happen so quickly. And now I'm returning for the second time in as many weeks. 

My old truck rumbles towards my destination and I marvel at how it has made the journey from Seattle once again unscathed. After all, I don't have my own personal mechanic at home anymore. 

The Welcome to Forks sign catches my eye and I almost laugh at just how unwelcome it makes me feel. Population 3120, it proclaims, but all that means to me is 3120 people who all know my deepest secret. Three thousand one hundred and twenty people whose eyes seem unable to break away from the back of my head, whose whispered insults reach my ears in stereo and whose disdain at my 'abandoning' their Golden Boy I can almost taste on my tongue; 3120 people who know I'm a freak. 

Bella is fleeing a recent past and obvious scandal, though we are not sure what happened. Charlie’s death and funeral are what brings Bella back to her hometown, where we learn that Jake is the ‘Golden Boy’ she was referring to and that they were married. It also appears that the ending of the marriage was one-sided on Bella’s part. Although I am halfway through the posted fifteen chapters, we still haven’t found out what happens. The reader gets little hints here and there, but I haven’t quite figured it out yet. I am a fan of this kind of reveal because it keeps my brain going.

Bella has accepted a transfer in her company to the London offices, which is where our Bristishward comes in. Let me explain a little of my disdain for this particular –ward. I often feel that it is overdone, with Bristish slang thrown in every other sentence, and often having the American characters speaking with British slang. But this is not the case in this story. There is a perfect balance and it is actually quite educational, describing the area she lives and how she takes the ‘tube’ to work and how the weather is. It is almost like Amber1983 is an American being in England for the first time, but she is, in fact, from the UK.

So, in comes Edward, quintessential ladies man and workaholic. Bella is going to replace the ever efficient Kate, as Edward’s PA. Bella gets an earful from other employees about Edward’s habits, but decides to make her own judgment. After a week of barking orders, he leaves at the same time as Bella and offers to walk her to the tube. They discover they live in the same area and sit together on the way home. Edward apologizes for his behavior during the week and they have a pleasant conversation. He invites her for a drink before they go home, which she accepts. They have a great time, until the end of the evening.

I freeze. He moves his head alongside mine and grazes my cheek with his lips. Soft. Warm. Perfect. 

"Goodnight, Bella Swan." He whispers. 

I expect him to move back but instead he lowers his head and finds the exposed skin of my throat. He presses his lips to my pulse and I forget how to breathe, how to move, how to speak. Back and forth he brushes his mouth across my skin until I'm sure the trembling in my mind must show in my body too. 

Apparently taking my lack of speech and movement as encouragement he moves to face me, barely a breath between us. His other hand gently falls to my waist, effectively blocking me in against the door. I can hear his slightly laboured breaths. 

I can feel his eyes on my face, willing me to look up and meet his but I'm afraid if I do I will be lost. 

"Bella," he murmurs, bringing his hand to my cheek. 

I finally meet his gaze and it's as if he is looking into my soul. He leans his face even closer and I suddenly feel exposed, cold, wide open and afraid. 

"No." I whisper, putting my hands on his shoulders and pushing him back. He retreats, looking hurt...and drunk. 

I really like this Bella; she stands her ground even though she is incredibly attracted to him. Edward also has admirable qualities, like apologizing to her the next day on his behavior instead of letting it fester, like some Edwards tend to do! We also learn that something has happened in Edward’s life that is the reason for his many one-night stands with women, but we don’t know what that is yet either. The secondary characters also have interesting backgrounds, such as Jasper, who is in a rocky marriage with Maria.

Please go give this story a shot! You won’t regret it!! I can’t wait to finish the posted chapters and then patiently wait for updates!!

One Shot of the Week: 3/5/12

The Call Girl by Rason

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6596596/1/The_Call_Girl

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

Summary: Edward and Bella meet for a very interesting night of unclothed fun and pleasure. Includes an entire lemon tree.

New Fic of the Week: 3/5/12

Boxing Out by MeilleurCafe

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7534919/1/Boxing_Out

Review by Ruibin Rua

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

Summary: Bella is a little lost while trying to make a new life in the Big Apple. Edward is a Manhattan police officer who knows it to the core. They meet at court. Will this new romance be a slam dunk? AH; M for language and probable lemons.

It’s not often that I come across a story with a character that appears to be speaking my own words, but Meilleur Cafe’s Bella in her latest story, Boxing Out, represents such a character for me. I may not lead the life of her Bella, or have all of her particular life experiences, but I feel very deeply that she is a kindred spirit, and a part of myself that is still striving for the air to grow more fully.

 Bella once thought she wasn't big enough for New York; that she'd stay out of sight like its smallest parts: the tuck of a street curb, the apron of a window, the tiny letters in a sign you had to cross the street to read. All those feelings of insignificance evaporated now. She finally felt visible, held fast in Edward's arms. She knew she wouldn't disappear, and neither would he. 

As for her burgeoning romance, well I’d happily share her experiences with a certain Edward in this story! I’ve never read a story with a Copward in it before, but I am now a firm disciple of that particular brand of male characterisation! Actually, I’m feeling more than a little warm just thinking of him. What gets me about this Edward is that he fits my idea of a ‘real man’(forgive me the cliche), with every flaw and attribute that accompanies such a specimen. My inner perv has no reason to complain either, as when you picture him in his dress blues, or on a basketball court, I guarantee that your lady parts will begin a very enthusiastic refrain.

  

Whenever he had the ball, Edward outshone them all. Graceful and fast, he managed to work through almost every cluster of opposition in his drives to the basket. Bella watched him sail up against the backboard countless times, going over and around defenders with a dancer's sure footing, and the ball made it through the hoop with nearly every shot. 

Bella, too, is a woman worthy of our admiration. It is so gratifying to find a female lead with a meaningful job, strength of character and integrity of self. Both she and Edward are drawn to one another, because they both possess and value these character traits, along with a healthy sense of humour and a chemistry that will make your breath falter. Neither character eclipses the other; rather, they compliment each other beautifully. Their interactions with the secondary characters are also given the proper attention and Rose in this story is especially likeable.

 "You put off your meeting so you could ask me about Edward?" 

"Well, yeah." Rosalie looked at her like this was the normal course of events. For Rose, it probably was. 

"We took the subway together." 

"I know that. Jeez, stop wasting my time. Tell me how it went." "Oh, Rose, it was beyond my wildest fantasies." She paused for dramatic effect as Rosalie's eyes widened. "The train was on schedule, for once." 

Meilleur Cafe has crafted real, human characters. This isn’t a story with drama inserted for drama’s sake, nor is it romantic in a way that makes the sliver of a cynic in me (I swear, my cynic muscle is a little on the pudgy, under-used side) roll her eyes. At its heart, this is a story about two people who meet and click in that wonderful way that life sometimes allows; and we’re the lucky ones being afforded a bird’s eye view into the exhilarating zing of attraction and deepening feeling.

"I'm going to have to get used to this," she said slowly. 

Edward glanced at her quickly, and for a moment she saw hope on his face, which made it so endearingly vulnerable she almost couldn't bear to tease him. 

"Used to what?" he said. 

 "To this New York sense of humor. I could have had a whole lemonade stand here, plus clean clothes and a private shower, just for you" – she poked her finger into his damp chest – "and you still would have asked for whatever I didn't have." 

He looked at her intently for a moment before responding. "Nah. I think you'll always have everything for me." 

There are only three chapters posted so far, but each of these is satisfyingly long and was worth waiting for. I find myself completely absorbed in the ebb and flow of the plot, and reading Meilleur Cafe’s words is like watching a finely honed script being acted out in your head. Add to this a deliciously dry sense of humour and a deft writing touch and you have one hell of a winner on your hands, ladies and gentlemen!

She regarded him curiously. "You'd really spend your day off in a museum?"

"Sure. Just to impress you, of course. I'd rather be at the illegal chicken fights in the Bronx." She honestly couldn't tell if he was serious, he was so good at doing deadpan.

And lines like this make me laugh out loud; yes, even when I’m travelling amongst the perpetually grumpy, sleep-deprived morning commuters:

Like a pigeon who stubbornly returns each time he's chased away, Mike dropped by Bella's cubicle again that afternoon. He slumped into the empty chair in her office, uninvited and unwanted. 

On a more personal note, Meilleur Cafe, or Mango as I know her, is a dear friend of mine and nothing makes me prouder than to see her grow as a writer. Boxing Out is her most accomplished piece of work to date and I have no fear in recommending it loudly and enthusiastically to all who follow this blog. We have often considered ourselves as ‘fic-sisters’, reading a lot of the same Fanfiction stories and admiring similar styles. Mango, this time the style I am gushing about is all your own and it is glorious to behold!

She stared at him, breathless, as his fingertips traced the shape of her face again and again. "I see you," he said, then repeated fiercely, "I see you. And that guy? He never could."

Completed Fic of the Week: 3/5/12

Just Breathe by jtmd24

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6844825/1/Just_Breathe

Review by AnonymouslySufferingFromOCD

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

Summary: What happens when the man you've loved for 6 years starts to change right before your eyes? Bella is forced to question her heart when the black sheep of the family returns. In the end, will she put her trust in the right person? AR/OOC/lemons

Just Breathe, offers up a completely unique twist to the vampires in Twilight.  The story starts off with Bella as a senior in college.  It has many similarities to original Twilight, such as every night a vampire sneaks into Bella’s bedroom window to watch her sleep.  She had also met said vampire, shortly after moving to Forks to live with her dad in her junior year of high school.

Of course, there are a number of differences, too. First, obviously Bella is in college and hasn’t been turned into a vampire yet.  Add to that the fact that the Cullen family dynamic isn’t what we are used to, and one very important family member hasn’t lived with them for over fifteen years.  That is right, we start off the story with Edward being nowhere in sight, don’t fret though, Bella hasn’t even met him yet. 

When the story begins, Jasper is the vampire Bella is dating. Don’t worry though, I promise this is an Edward and Bella story, it just takes them a little while to get there, as our beloved vampire is a bit difficult in this story.  Edward left the Cullen’s fifteen years prior due to differences in feeding styles.  Just remember things aren’t always what they seem.

All I could do was stand there in shock.

This guy...this man with the golden eyes that practically threw me across the room...this was Edward. This was the Cullen no one spoke of who had been gone for a decade and a half.

While the two of them stood there throwing testosterone all over the room, I took a moment to study him.

My first thought was that he looked nothing like Jasper. Which was incredibly stupid since vampires were made, not born into families. I spent too much time around Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie and Jasper, who all seemed to share some sort of physical characteristics. From everyone except Esme having dirty blonde hair or the fact that every one of them shared some shade of green in their eyes.

Edward was the only one who actually looked "adopted". His messy bronze hair was in complete contrast to Jasper's dirty blonde wavy hair that never had a piece out of place. He was taller than Jasper by at least six inches, and where Jasper was more of a lover than a fighter and didn't necessarily have a six-pack or bulging biceps, Edward's muscles were understated, but you knew they were there by the way his long-sleeved t-shirt clung to his arms and his abs.

Like I said this is an Edward and Bella story, and Bella isn’t a cheater, either. Unfortunately her world, which she thought was perfect, takes an unexpected turn and she starts to not only doubt Jasper’s feelings for her but also if Jasper is the person or vampire she thought he was.

"Oh my God I am so sorry! I was totally not looking where I was going," a female voice said.

I made my way around the front of Jasper's car and found him kneeling down with a woman who had her back to me, helping her pick up some papers she had dropped.

They both stood up as I got closer and she turned to face me. She was about our age, but she reminded me of a pixie. She was tall and willowy, with beautiful porcelain skin and short, jet-black hair.

She stuck her hand out to me as I got to the other side of the car. "Hi! I'm Alice! I'm a total klutz and just ran into your brother," she explained.

Jasper laughed before I could make a comment.

"This is actually my girlfriend Bella. And I'm Jasper. It's nice to meet you ma'am," he said politely as Alice dropped my hand and then shook his.

And held onto it for a little bit longer than necessary.

"Wow, I'm sorry about that too then!" she said with a laugh.

"I just moved to town and my brain just isn't all there yet," she explained.

I was really enjoying this gripping conversation but I needed to get to class. And no, I wasn't jealous. I don't get jealous. I am completely secure with how Jasper feels about me.

Alice was still talking about her move here and how she didn't know anyone and blah blah blah. I glanced down at my watch and cleared my throat a little.

Jasper looked over at me and I nodded my head towards school.

"Oh sorry, Bella needs to get to English and I need to get to History," Jasper explained to Alice.

"History 207? With professor Whitlock?" Alice asked excitedly. "That's exactly where I was headed."

Oh joy.

They both looked at me and I realized I was the odd man out.

"You know what, it's fine. I'm just going to run ahead. I need to drop a book off at the library and you guys need to get to the other side of campus for history."

This really is a great story. It is well written and really challenges our favorite characters to stretch themselves beyond the norm.  I love that jtmd24’s vampires aren’t Stephanie Meyer’s vampires; they actually have pieces of a number of different vampires that most of us have read.  Edward, is a bit more rash and opinionated than we are used to and Bella has a bit more backbone.  The biggest shock is Alice and Jasper, but I will let you learn about them for yourselves.  After all you wouldn’t want me to give all the secrets away now would you? I hope you enjoy the story, I know I did.

WIP of the Week: 3/5/12

Consign Me Not to Darkness by msj2779

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7653135/1/Consign_Me_Not_to_Darkness

Review by AbbyCreations

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

Summary: Bella has just escaped from the grasp of a torturous relationship and she finds herself in the slums of Chicago. She's a shadow of who she used to be and has the anxiety to go with it. With some help, she finds hope... AH B E. Some dark situations.

I've read very few stories where Edward isn't a wealthy, successful businessman of some sort, or a doctor, etc. One of the things that initially drew me in when I started reading this story is the grittiness of the setting. The characters are all struggling in some way, financially, emotionally,or in their relationships. The prologue, with its descriptions of yellowed curtains due to cigarette smoke were vivid enough that I had a clear picture of the dumpy apartment that Bella had rented. Unlike some other stories this one did not bore me with the descriptions used to describe the surroundings. That surprised me as I find that a lot of writers overdo it by constantly mentioning brand names and other descriptors that don't actually add anything to the story.

Esme and Rosalie are fleshed out a lot. The canon undertones are there but there are also some differences. I love that Rosalie reached out to Bella to babysit almost as soon as she moved in. The way that Bella met her neighbors and the subsequent relationships that developed were done in a way that to me was very believable. When she first sees Edward she refers to him as 'creepy guy in overalls'. As much as I've enjoyed love at first sight meets cute, this is one of my favorite initial Edward sightings. It takes quite a few chapters for Bella to warm up to him.

 Bella was the victim of horrid abuse and for those of you who are sensitive to this subject matter I would definitely advise you against reading this story. There is hope and the abuse is more alluded to than graphically depicted but I realize that for some, this story is just something they won't read because of the subject matter.

Here's an excerpt showcasing how Edward sees Bella right from the start:

"Damn, that wasn't what I meant," he groaned. "What I meant was…there are types of people who live in this sort of neighborhood. I'm not saying that they aren't good people but there are a lot of people who wouldn't have offered to do a stranger's laundry to help them out. Most people wouldn't have offered to babysit two little heathens so that they could go visit their husband in prison. You belong somewhere decent, Bella." 

I chewed on his words for a few beats. "They aren't heathens," I replied. 

He laughed. "That's what you got from what I just said?" 

"I'm sorry but I just don't see what you see," I told him. "I don't think that offering to help Rose makes me a good person. It's human to want to do something for other people." 

His laugh was humorless. "You have no idea how wrong you are about that." 

If you're expecting a graphic lemon right away you're barking up the wrong tree. Their first time together is sweet and not heavily described but it does show how far they've come together.

Here is some pre-lemon loving:

"Are you listening to a word that I'm saying?" He leaned down and suckled my earlobe. I couldn't deny the chills that claimed my entire body nor could I help the way my eyes rolled into the back of my skull. "Fuck, you're so sweet. You have no idea how much I want to rip your clothes off and bury myself inside you. Stop saying that I don't want you because, oh Christ, I do." He nuzzled my hair with his chin and inhaled the scent. "I don't want you to be afraid of me, Bella and I can see it in your eyes. You're not ready and there's no fucking way that I'm pushing you, no matter how ready you say you are." 

"You're always saving me, Edward," I whispered, "even from myself. You must really care about me or maybe you just like playing hero." 

He snorted. "I'm nobody's hero." 

I didn't argue, partially because dismissing the "hero" status was just an Edward thing to do. But it was true and there was nothing he could say or do to make me believe otherwise. 

There will be heartfail and angst. I don't want to give any of it away but you may as well know. Given what Bella is running away from it can't be helped. Give it a read and leave msj2779 some love. Happy Reading!

Banner by JaimeArkin

One Shot of the Week: 2/20/12

Always You by ChocolateLover82

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7081975/1/Always_You

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

Summary: Books, apple pies, spanking ... Just a normal talk between friends, right? Even when I want us to be more than that? AH, ExB.

One Shot of the Week: 2/27/12

Captured by aspire2write

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6809812/1/Captured

Rating: M
Genre: Friendship
Characters: Emmett, Edward, Rosalie and Bella

Summary: It all started with an indecently innocent anniversary present. It evolved into a complicated mess. It ended up a more perfect entanglement than anyone could imagine. Entry for Pick Your Own Adventure O/S Contest.

TenneseeLamb's Rec of the Week: 2/27/12

Mine by SuzyQSparkles

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7623135/7/Mine

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

Summary: Bella, a sophmore in college, is an artist who has recently joined a sorority where she does not fit in. While Edward, a senior in college, is the all too perfect president of the fraternity two houses down. In this story all characters are human.

Review will be up soon!

Banner by JaimeArkin

Kassiah's Rec of the Week: 2/27/12

Under These Lights by jaxington

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7477495/1/Under_These_Lights

Review by Kassiah

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

Small town Texas. High school football. Two best friends, one girl. A tragedy that changes everything. All Human. Lemons. The usual suspects. YeeHaw!

I. Love. This. Story.

Is that enough to get you to read it? Under These Lights is one of those almost-undiscovered gems--it's practically a travesty how few reviews this story has. Since I just want everyone to read it, I emailed Lori about a month ago, begging her to let me rec this story here on Indie Fic Pimp. It's so good, and I'm so glad she let me! Based loosely on the show Friday Night Lights, this story features a jaded football-playing Edward and cheerleader Bella. You know I love high-school fics, and this one really packs in the drama.

"I don't want you to leave," I say petulantly. And I shouldn't. I don't ask anything from her. That's how it's been this summer. Expect for the first couple times, I let her come to me. I follow her lead.

But I feel myself startin' to panic as our time comes to an end.

And usually I'm so good at livin' in the moment.

"Don't say that," Bella says quietly, not meeting my gaze.

"You're beautiful."

She cracks a small smile. "Don't say that either."

"It's true."

"We can't keep doing this, Edward." Her words break my heart, which is double, shitty because it forces me to admit I have a heart at all. Bella has always gotten though my tough guy exterior. It's not the first time I've cursed this weakness.

"So what, Jazz comes home and you're done with me? We just forget everything that happened this summer?" I demand, suddenly angry.

"Stop pretending like we've had some sort of giant love affair," she snaps back, narrowing her eyes at me as she pulls her hair roughly into a ponytail. "That's not what you do. You don't do romance. It's just s…sex."

She stutters over the word. Despite how much she is trying to be that girl – the one that's completely okay getting her kicks from her boyfriend's best friend to scratch the itch while he's away for the summer – she can't quite pull it off. She's a good girl at heart. The guilt must be eatin' at her.

It's eatin' at me too.

You don't have to be familiar with the show to know what's going on here. Football rules the small town in Texas that they live in. Jasper, Bella's boyfriend and Edward's best friend, is away for the summer at Quarterback camp. Bella's dad, Charlie, is a former NFL-player and now owns a successful car dealership. Edward lives on his own with older-brother Emmett, and has quite a reputation for trouble.

I met Bella Swan because I was best friends with the son of the second richest family in town, even though I wasn't supposed to be. We were inseparable since kindergarten, Jasper and me, much to the displeasure of Mrs. Whitlock. I like to think I've grown on her. She does feed me an awful lot.

Anyway, the rich families tend to stick together so I met Bella Swan the summer before seventh grade. Bella was beautiful, even then, but in seventh grade boys show their affection with teases and hair pullin'. Jasper and I were havin' none of that, and we became quite the little threesome. Mikey Newton tripped Bella durin' a game of kickball, Jazz and I beat him up, and the three of us became fast friends.

We were both mostly in love with her from the moment we saw her, but Jazz was the one she ended up with.

And that makes sense. That's the way it should be.

Bella and Jasper were basically made for each other. She's the good girl cheerleader. He's the all-American quarterback. Their families are friends. They both go to the same church, want to get married right out of college, and move on to the 2.3 babies and white picket fence. They are the perfect, it couple at Dillon High.

So I wasn't even mad when Jasper took Bella to the eighth grade dance. I was already pretty familiar with how the world works, even when it sucked which was most of the time. The differences between my life and Jaspers were always apparent so why wouldn't he get Bella Swan?

The two of them made sense to me, even at thirteen. Even if I hated it.

I don't want to spoil too much, but I also don't want you to think this is just another cheat fic. Technically, Bella is Jasper's girlfriend, but it's complicated. Just before Jasper leaves for camp, Bella's family goes through something that makes them the center of a town scandal. She can barely deal with the gossip, and turns to Edward (who's been her friend for years) for support. Of course, one thing leads to another...

The first time...I told myself it was a one-time thing. A one-time mistake. The second time, I convinced myself that I was seduced. Edward said he couldn't stop thinking about me. Who could resist that?

If you've seen Friday Night Lights, you know what happens next. Jasper comes home, but before anything can be resolved, he's hurt during a game--and it's really bad.

Unfortunately, in the second half, we're still sloppy. No one expected Westerby to give us any fuckin' trouble at all. Newton can't get anywhere. No one can get open. The blitz fucks with us all.

"This is our field," yells Jazz in the huddle. "They do not push us around. Run your routes. Have faith in your routes. The ball will be there every time."

I bounce in place, ready for the next play. Ready to hurt someone. Jazz throws an interception, and I'm too far away to do anything about it but that doesn't stop me from runnin'. Jazz is the only one anywhere near the fucker with the ball, and I grin for a moment when Jasper lays in to the Westerby player, hard, causin' a fumble.

We recover, and for one glorious moment, it seems Jazz has done the impossible. He's shifted the momentum back to us. He's once again the savior of the game. But then he doesn't get up.

What will happen next? Will Bella stay with him out of obligation? Will the town forgive Edward when and if they find out about his relationship with their fallen hero's girlfriend? You'll be on the edge of your seat to find out! The way they think, the way they interact with each other, the small-town politics--it's so real. And that's one of the reasons I love this story. Oh, and I love Edward and Bella and them:

"Kiss me," he insists, smiling lazy.

"Absolutely not."

"Kiss me."

I shake my head, not an easy task with my face still trapped.

He grins crookedly at me before laying his forehead on mine. His thumb traces my bottom lip and then his fingers drop down to graze the side of my neck. I bite my lip in an attempt to shift my whimper.

Damn him and his dazzlingness. It's like his light touch leaves a line of fire on my skin.

"Bella," he breaths out, his voice low. My eyes go a little cross-eyed as I try to maintain eye contact but he is too close so I give up. I close my eyes in anticipation of his kiss and lean towards him. "Kiss me."

I let out a little growl because he is so immensely irritating before kissing him angrily. I can feel him smile before he kisses me back, opening his mouth and sweeping his tongue over my lower lip.

He drives me so crazy. I love kissing him.

"You're one manipulative son of a bitch," I mutter against his lips, pushing both my hands through his hair and tugging a little too hard.

He smirks and laughs deep in his chest. "You love it."

I love the other characters too. Except Renee lol! I do have to say that this story does have some spelling errors, but it's so good, I am willing to overlook them. Her last update said we're in the final stretch, so I believe the story is close to being complete.

Whether you're a sports fan, a high-school fic fan, a drama fan, or you just want something awesome to read, give Under These Light a try. I think you'll love it like I do!