Completed Fic of the Week: 1/17-1/23

Winds of Change by angela4148

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6405438/1/Winds_of_Change

Review by Marriedmyedward
*This Story is No Longer Available* 

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

Summary: Written for the 'A Picture Says it All' Contest... Just like the weather, people are unpredictable. The question is whether you should shield yourself from the storm or brave the winds of change.

When I was given this story to read and review, I seriously had no idea what to expect. Once I read the first chapter, I was pretty much hooked! I started this story yesterday morning after my daughter went down for her morning nap. By 1:00 am, I was finished with it.

This story is about Edward and Bella being best friends since high school. Bella happens to fall pretty hard for Edward, but Edward only seems to be “in like” with Bella, not “in love” like she is with him. Ten years go by, they both go to the same college together and live off campus but on opposite sides of the city. While living in the complex where Bella lives, she meets a guy named Paul and decides that she is never going to have “her Edward” so why not start seeing Paul. After a crazy chain of events, Edward finally has an epiphany...but the problem is, he witnesses something that Bella never told him about that makes Edward think that he may be too late.

While Edward and Bella were still in high school, Bella lost her mother suddenly. Things happen a few years after with Bella's father and Edward helps her get through every step of the way. It turns out that Edward is going to be needed for support once again when the same thing happens 5 years later to Bella's father.

This just happens to be one of my favorite scenes with Bella and her father...

"Well then, lets talk it out. Maybe if you talk about it, it would make more sense. I know saying things out loud helps me. Why do you think I talk to myself all the time," he said with a chuckle.

"Ready to put your mom hat on?" I asked. This was our thing, anytime I wanted to talk about something that I would have gone to my mom for, he would suck it up and try to channel what she would say or do. He picked up a pretend hat, blew the dust off, and sat it on his head.

"I wanted to say yes so bad, it was weird. Even after everything we've been through, I wanted to say yes. You know how I told you that I was dating that guy Paul?" He nodded his head and gritted his teeth a little. He didn't like the idea that I was dating someone he didn't know. If it got any more serious I was going to have to introduce them.

My dad raised his eyebrows but kept his mouth shut.

"I just have no clue what to do, Dad. I really like Paul but it's Edward, my Edward. He's my best friend." I hung my head and wanted to cry, but it seemed like I didn't have any more tears left to shed.

"You have to do what makes you happy, baby girl. That's all I can say. I know that Edward has done a ton of stuff to make you cry. At the end of the day, does all the good cancel out the bad and still leave a little extra good to use up?" he asked with raised eyebrows. Leave it my dad to get all deep with me while putting together pressed wood furniture.

All around this story is wonderful. This story made me laugh, cry, and happy all through the story. I can't say it enough, it's an amazing story and you must go read it!

Brand New Fic of the Week: 1/10-1/16

Committed to Memory by krismom

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6552587/1/Committed_To_Memory

Review by KylaPricky

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

Summary: 'Til death do us part wasn't supposed to come before Happily ever after. Bella is a widow undone by grief and anger, learning about the contingencies of life from an unlikely source.

The first line of the author's summary best captures the essence of Committed to Memory. As a young widow, Bella is learning to cope with not only the loss of her husband, but also how to deal with a precocious child who's dealing with the loss of her father. Bella gets help from an unlikely source in her handsome neighbor, Edward...

If you have ever read any of my reviews before you would know that one of my favorite type of stories to review are the realistic ones. The ones that really hit home.

“Here is one of the worst things about having someone you love die: It happens again every single morning.”

If you want a story that really tugs on the heart strings and not in an angst ridden fantasy type way, but instead in a really touching way and in a totally honest depiction of someone’s struggles in life, than you shouldn’t hesitate to start reading, Committed To Memory.

“Now I am empty. Like the shell of cicadas we found a few summers ago.”

The writing style of this story really wraps the reader up and will shove you inside Bella’s head. I love the stream of consciousness type style the author has taken on, so we can feel all of the hot and cold that this Bella has to go through.

Bella’s mind is all over the place. It’s choppy, quick and random just like someone who has lost someone near and dear to their heart. The author’s engaging writing style really explores the randomness that invades one’s mind after a death. Bella is constantly plagued with the good and bad of Mike, like everyone is after the loss of someone so close.

I also just freaking love the introduction of Edward. While some may think his entrance to the story is glossed over, I really like it because, sorry for the broken record, but its authentic. Bella just lost a husband that she loved. To me, it makes perfect sense that she doesn’t notice his looks and I must admit that one of my favorites tidbits of this story is that she can’t even remember his name for the first few chapters. But she knows he is really good, “like bread and butter.”

Trust, this story will be no wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am. This is an in depth story with details and real raw emotions.

Besides, who doesn’t love a good slow burn? I can just see this story becoming filled with UST that makes us all squirm in our seats as we the audience root for these two to come together.

I’m eager to see if this Edward can show this Bella how to live and love again and you should be too!