Sunday Selections for 09-19-10

MerinaGreen recommends 

Coming Through the Rye by Mac214

"I'd never been one of those women who found foreign accents sexy until I met Edward. Now, even plaid made me horny." Bella is in love with her best friend, Scottish expat Edward, and she'll do anything for him. Anything. AH. E/B.

O, Ryeward, how I love thee. Edward in a kilt. Need I say more? Well, I probably should. But really, just let that image bounce around in your brain for a bit. Is it just me, or is there something about a man in a kilt? Well, not just any man...

Not this:

But maybe this:

Or this:

 And remember:

Anyway...

Coming Through the Rye by Mac214 is an AH/EB fic that I found a couple months ago and instantly fell in love with. It's a romantic comedy, and every time I saw an update in my inbox, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Well, you won't get that feeling because Mac just completed it (congratulations!), but that just means you'll get to enjoy the story all at once!

In Mac214's world, Edward is a Scotsman in America who finds himself suddenly facing deportation out of the country due to the recent loss of his job. Bella is his co-worker and “best bud” of two years, and she's been nursing more than a crush for him for most of that time. When mutual friends suggest that they get married to prevent Edward from getting tossed out on his ear, it sounds like a good idea to Bella. Of course it does! Who wouldn't want to marry Edward-in-a-kilt in the hopes of getting to know his boaby better? (Want that interpreted? Read the story!) Mac214's story is well written, and Edward's dialogue is done in a Scotch accent that you can almost hear when you read it. I swear, it almost makes me swoon just seeing it in writing. And his INTERNAL dialogue? Well, I'll warn you, Ryeward is all man. He wouldn't hurt a fly and he's a nice guy, but....he farts. And he likes tits. A lot. And, well, he's just your every day kind of guy. A REAL guy. He's not the “magical, do-no-wrong, super-man Edward” we see in so many fics. He's the kind of guy you fall in love with and take home to keep, even if he does insist on leaving his sweaty, smelly rugby gear hidden in a corner where it starts to grow things. Because lets face it, he has an accent. And he wears a kilt. And you can forgive a lot if those two things are included in the package.


Read Mac214's Coming Through the Rye and see how THESE best laid plans work out for Ryeward and Bella. Trust me. You won't be disappointed. In fact, you'll be wanting to join Clan Cock just like the rest of her readers.

Sunday Selections for 9/12/10

catonspeed recommends

Sweet Tooth by MacFlan

*Creeps out of the basement and blinks at the bright lights*

OHAI, sheeples! Do you remember waaaaaaaaaaaaay back when I rec'd BellaFlan for her Emmett OS? Good shit, yes? Well, I've been so out of touch that I hadn't realised she'd written Becoming Bella Swan (insert fangirl style jumping up and down - the lovely, lovely lady emailed it to me to read on holiday - j'adore her!), which I motherfunking LOVELOVELOVED! But then it was over, and I was indeed a very sad panda.

Woe was me!

But then...

Sweet Tooth happened. And praise the lawd! I was saved from the monotony of a non craic lifestyle, and I giggled, and snorted, AND gigglesnorted my way through the six chapters I found up online. If you haven't found it yet and you can get down with a little AH diiiiiiirty, funny fuckery, then ZOMG are you in for a TREAT! A buttercream-peniscake-cannolipube-confectionary-treat!!! *disney sigh* Written as a collab between BellaFlan and Mac214 (of 'Relative Wind' dilfward acclaim - it's on the reading list, but you had me at the mention of Dilfward, woman), it's seriously cute, awkward fun and it'll have you chuckling away as the pair navigates you through their delicious world of dentophilla and just pure WIN! It's AH Edward and Bella, and other characters from the saga are popping in where you least expect them (Best Rose? I think so...), so don't go expecting traditional cannon (and who would want it with this? seriously? When you read it you'll see what I mean). I won't ruin it with spoilers, but I will tell you that I won't ever be able to say buttercream in a normal way again ha ha! Mmmmmm buttercream!

Words can't adequately describe how much I enjoyed reading what they have up so far, and I'm salivating like Bella over a bouquet of pussy cakes at the prospect of MOAR chaps, so I made them something involving the best that googleSPECIAL offers me:

Here's the official FFn blurb:

Sweet Tooth - Come to Pink Cookie, where porn never tasted this good. Erotic baker, Edward Cullen has a new obsession in the form of Bella Swan. Will his buttercream satisfy her sweet tooth? AH, OOC, Comedy/Romance.

And yes, that IS a sprinklepenis in the banner, and if you stare hard enough at the background you'll see what THAT is tee hee! *pats google and whispers sweet nothings in its ear*

Go read it! You won't be disappointed!

*scurries back into the basement*

Maelyn recommends

Real Relationship:

A Geeky Love Story

by booksforme

Twilight/Shop Around the Corner : AU Edward and Bella become friends on an online massive-multiplayer roleplaying game. What will happen when they meet in real life, but don't know it? BxE. Rated K+

I found this story in the first few months of reading fanfiction and I thought it was so cute and lovable.  For those who aren’t aware, I’m a bit of a gamer girl.  Of course, with my addiction to Twilight fanfiction and the like, the gaming has been on the back burner lately, but I still love it.  So when I saw this story summary, I just had to read it.

What I found was such a wonderful, fluffy short story that is well written and has such interesting characters and storyline.  I’ve been in relationships with fellow gamers myself, so it’s easy to see where Edward and Bella are coming from in the fic and how you can fall in love with someone’s mind before ever having physical contact.  In addition, some of my closest friends are girls I met online, so I can also see how ‘virtual’ friends can be just as important as ‘real’ friends, as some people term them. 

As the writer says: 

“You see, it doesn't really matter where you meet someone. Both online and real life, they're just the same person with a different face. I know this because I first met Edward on the internet, and together we're as real as real can be. Some of our other guild friends have also shown themselves to be some of the closest people to us we know."   

I guess I can empathize with so much of the story, it makes it mean that much more to me.  Of course, I’ve never had the instance where they end up being people I know in ‘real life’, but I do love the beauty of the story here.

Edward and Bella are still pulled together when they meet in person, even with all the misunderstandings, and that is what makes it beautiful.  Everyone wants to believe that when you meet your soul mate, you’ll just know them, be drawn to them.  And even though this story is fluffy, it still is able to bring that point to life.

So if you want a cute, contemporary story, check her out!

Merina Green recommends

Privileged

by Nostalgicmiss

When Bella's life takes an unexpected turn she's forced to find her estranged father, but not everything is as straight forward as it seems. Blood isn't always thicker than water. AU AH. B/E Rated M.

"Privileged" is an AH E/B fic.  I love this story.  I first found Nostalgicmiss's writing when I read "The Girl Under the Bed" (AH Jasper/Bella.  If you haven't read it, you should.).  When that story ended, I was a bit sad - Nostalgicmiss is a great writer, with well written stories and good character and story development. And she updates EVERY WEEK.  What would I have to look forward to on Tuesday mornings?  I mean, it was a habit!  And I'm a creature of habit!  Luckily, like a good drug dealer, Nostalgicmiss started another story, and sure enough, the updates come out every Tuesday like clockwork.  *sigh*  And don't think I'm reading this because I need a drug fix.  I'm reading it because it's GOOD.  It's set in New Orleans and various other spots around southern Louisiana, so I'm able to get a good mental picture of her scenarios, and that is always a good thing for me.  She's also got a really good handle on the way that certain, um, "social circles" work in the Crescent City.

The story's based on the premise that Bella has been raised in the Atchafalya Basin by her grandma (okay, that's the Louisiana swamp for those of you that don't know).  Flighty Renee, of course, took off long ago when she was a baby.  Charlie was there, too, but...well, you gotta read the story.  Upon her grandma's death, Bella discovers that her biological father is Carlisle Cullen - rich, well connected, New Orleans doctor. And of those three adjectives, "well connected" is the most important, followed by "rich", after which "doctor" trails far behind.  Bella decides to go to New Orleans to meet this father and see if she can figure out why she's just now finding out about him at the age of 17.   What she finds there is a shock to her poor Cajun Girl system, but she gamely decides to soldier on.  Because she's not a quitter, and she refuses to be driven back home like a beat dog.  Personally, if it was me, I would have said "Fuck you all" within the first week and gone home to retain my sanity.  But then, of course, there wouldn't be a story.  I keep telling Nostalgic this.  Almost every review, in fact.  She keeps telling me "Trust Me".  And I do.  And Bella does seem to be working through everything just fine.  But every obstacle overcome just leads to a bigger one, it seems.  

The story is wonderfully written, and Nostalgic has developed all the characters beautifully.  All our favorites are here, and there's a new one for us to hate.  I mean enjoy.  None of them start out where they 'need' to be, but we get to see the characters gradually shift and grow.  Hell, talk about Slow Build here for E/B, you won't even be sure it IS an E/B fic for quite a while.  In fact, you'll decide you don't WANT it to be an E/B fic at one point, because we ALL love J/B, and, well...just read the story.  It's got angst, mystery, romance, and a wonderfully written Bella trying to figure out the world she's suddenly found herself in.  And we get to try to figure it out right along with her.

(Make sure to check out the Privileged blog too!)

Sunday Selections for 9/5/10

Merina Green recommends

Surviving Bella by Savage7289

Ah, Human Month. I'm actually a big fan of AH stories. And I won't lie to you, in a lot of the AH stories out there (including some I like), the only connection to Twilight are the names of the characters and their physical descriptions. And sometimes not even the physical descriptions. Why read them, you ask? Well, they are well written, entertaining stories. And they're free. I was sort of torn on Human month. Part of me felt that, in the spirit of things, I should be rec'ing stories about the human characters in SM's books. But let's face it, who the heck wants to read 24 chapters about Eric Yorkie? Not Me. And even if there IS one out there (OK, I admit it, I haven't looked...), do you REALLY think the other Lambs would let the baby have it? Not likely. We'd be fighting over that fic like starving dogs over a bone.

So, for my first rec of the month, I'm going with an AH fic called Surviving Bella by Savage7289. It's 7 chapters in, and it's quite a good read so far. Human Edward was the captain of a sailing ship - the kind you can book trips on (not the three-hour cruise type of trip), sailing around the Caribbean. Bella, for reasons that are revealed as the story goes on, has booked such a cruise. Capt. Edward is an Asshole with a dark past. Bella is....well, pretty much our familiar Bella - older, stronger, more worldly, more...well, she's lived a little more. But she's still recognizable as our Bella.

The ship sinks in a storm (of course it does), and they find themselves on a life raft together. Alone. The whole adventure kicks off with Edward going through the DTs, and things just go downhill from there. I'm enjoying it because it's a good, well written story, and I want to learn more about the characters as they learn about each other. I also want to find out which one of them kills the other first. The obvious choice would be Edward taking out Bella, but...I'm really hoping she kicks HIM over the side in the middle of the night. So far, it's just Edward and Bella in the story - and I'm guessing it's going to remain that way for a long time, if not for the entire story. Other characters from Twilight are mentioned as Bella and Edward slowly reveal themselves to each other, sometimes in the same role they play in the books - although sometimes that is with a ...twist.

I recommend you give it a chance, if AH stories are your thing. E/B AH Stories.

SlackerLamb strikes again!

I think that the Lambs need to change my nickname from Lambbaton to Lambslacker. I have failed once again to get my Sunday Selection done. I have a very good excuse this time. Of course, it’s the same excuse, so I’m sure it’s getting old. The Hubs!

The hubs is my excuse. I have had to be the perfect little wife and play WendyHomemaker since I got home Saturday morning. Where have I been, you ask? I got to go with my best friend, Brooke, to celebrate her second 29th birthday (in other words, her 30th - shhhh, don’t tell her I told you). Brooke’s hubs, Mick, is in a local Atlanta band (*pimpage* Behind the Sun, a Red Hot Chili Peppers cover band) and he and the band were playing at a club Friday night. It was a pretty big, damn deal. By some miracle, Hubs let me go AND I got to stay the night away in a hotel room by myself - no hubs, no kids, no dogs, no nothing...just me, me alone, and ooooohhhhh, was it sweet!!!! So, anyway, to show my gratefulness for being allowed to do this, I’ve had to pay full attention to him and the kids. That meant no FF, no Twitter, no blogs, no email, no nothing, and I had to go to bed at 10PM last night. There’s my excuse, take it or leave it. But it was fucking worth it!

Now without further interruption, here’s my Sunday Selection:

JaspersBella recommends

Bars and Wars by trampvamp

Bella gets one heck of a surprise one night when an unexpected visitor returns to her life.

I’m not sure why I didn’t have trampvamp on my author alert because I enjoyed the fuck out of her story, Only at Night. I discovered her new story one day while I was lurking on Twitter. It’s only 4 chapters in right now but it has definitely grabbed my attention.

It starts off with Bella talking to her staff before their night begins. Bella owns Coyote Ugly. I don’t know about y’all but I fucking loved that movie and all of the bar scenes, so I was very happy to see the direction this was going to go. BUT I was given quite a surprise with how my thoughts of it were going to be. It was nice to see that she changed up some of the known Twilight characters and made them into her own people. Some things remain the same - Alice is still Bella’s best friend, Edward is after Bella, and thank fucking God she doesn’t feel the same way. Charlotte is single and it got me to wondering where Peter was, but you’ll never guess who he is involved with. It kinda took me back but then again, I can totally see the two of them together.

The story starts off with a big bachelor party going on. The drunk ass men are talking about Bella and Edward and how it would be cool to do a body shot off of Bella. She hears this and decides to put some rumors to rest. Apparently, she doesn’t date and doesn’t do body shots for anyone. Once she’s on the bar and the drunk groom-to-be is all over her, she is having second thoughts but decides to stick it out. Edward, of course, is all up in everyone’s business, not liking what he is seeing. Bella’s staff is all floored as well. Once the groom is done, someone else holds Bella down and proceeds to get all hot and heavy with her. And she is enjoying the fuck out of it. The descriptions that TrampVamp uses for what he is doing to her and what she is feeling make you start panting and wishing you were Bella at this point in time. Also, he fucking growls at anyone who tries to break them up. Yeah, at that point, your panties explode and it happens more than once. Once the shot is done, he kisses her with such a passion, you know she feels it down to her toes. People are grabbing him and pulling him off when Bella yells, “Stop! He’s my…”

Sorry chicks, you gotta go read to find out. Also, Edward is fucking LIVID and I have to tell ya, I completely enjoyed that!

Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 show us how Bella met this man and what he means to her. We see how she goes to live with Charlie and he seems pretty cool. They do seem to have some sort of relationship, unlike what SM gave us in her books. Things don’t go so well at school. People don't flock to Bella like they did in the books. In fact, she almost gets locked out of the building. But a certain handsome blond comes to her rescue. Yes, I’m talking Jasper fucking Whitlock. Despite everyone else, these two form quite the friendship. They're such an unlikely pair, but they seem to have much in common and the friendship is easy for them. We see their friendship build and become stronger til it develops into something more. Jasper asks Bella to the dance, not as friends but as his date.

The last chapter posted starts the day before the dance. trampvamp gives us Jasper and Bella’s first kiss. I have to tell you, I was floored by this kiss. Just the way she wrote it - the descriptions of how Jasper treats Bella with such love and care - was absolutely incredible. I could totally picture every move he made in my head. And it makes you feel like you could feel everything that Bella feels at that moment. Unfortunately, their newfound happiness with each other is cut short by Charlie coming home. Next up is the dance and they soon let everyone know that they are together - together and not just friends anymore. Months go by, their relationship is fantastic, all is good, and one night before their senior year of school starts, Jasper and Bella take their relationship to the next level.

Again, trampvamp does an amazing job with the way she writes Jasper with Bella. He is totally and completely in love with Bella, he treats her right, and he even has a sexy, dirty-talking mouth on him without being crude. I can’t wait for the next chapter and I’m dying to know why these two, who seem so very much like they belong together, are not together anymore.

I want everyone to grab a shot, say “1, 2, 3 Fuck it” and go right now to read Bars and Wars. Also, go check out the blog for Bars and Wars at trampvamp-barsandwars.blogspot.com.

Sunday Selections for 8/22/10

Maelyn recommends

Underneath Your Scars by HammerHips

Story begins after Bella jumps off the cliff in New Moon. Bella's life takes a turn for the worse and she must learn to cope while embarking on a journey of self-discovery. AU and OOC. Jasper/Bella Rated M

Wendy mentioned this fic a little while ago in emails, I think it was, and it sounded interesting. So this past week I came across it again and decided to give it a go. I must say that I was totally hooked within the first few chapters.

The first chapter captured me with the wit and style of the writing. And the second chapter just owned it for me, but I’ll let you read that for yourself because I don’t want to give anything away. Anyone who knows me will understand why I loved it though.

I really love her Bella, who you can actually see growing through the fic. She’s not the simpering little miss from the fics who only comes alive when she can find a way to try to get herself killed. She is REAL, and by real I mean she makes actual real decisions – some good, some bad, but at least they make sense.

Not only that, but after the traumatic event in Chapter Two, she really just snaps and stops taking people’s shit, thanks to a few good men and women. And she doesn’t just lay down and forgive everyone easily like in the books and many of the fics I’ve read. She actually gives them Hell for their mistakes, takes them to task for what they did, and makes them prove they mean what they say rather than just roll over and be all 'Oh, it’s okay.'  So I really love this Bella, who learns to stand up for herself and learn some self-dignity and self-worth.

Jasper is amazing as well. In a lot of ways he starts off as Bella, just doing what he’s told for the most part – how to dress, what to like, how to live. Then as events unfold and secrets start to be revealed, he finds himself. Of course, by helping Bella he helps himself too. As he tells Bella that she is worth it and to stand up for herself, she throws his words back at him. And so the teacher becomes the student of his own preachings.

In addition, the Jasper he grows into is the one we all know and love – the God of War-type persona, as given to us by Kay. He becomes the confident if dominant strategist that I think he should be, based on his past. It’s only his involvement with certain people who have twisted his fate askew. But that’s for you to read and discover on your own.

I absolutely MUST talk about one other person – Peter. Of course Peter! He is just amazingly fuckawesome in this fic. Again, a throwback to Kay’s Peter, but loveable just the same. He is a cocky know-it-all bastard who we absolutely cannot help but fall in love with. He is also real and as down to earth as he can be, but unconditionally loves his family and would do anything for them.

Peter also has some of the best lines in the fic, both inner monologue and dialogue. Here is just a sample from the most recent chapter:

“…I'm gettin' really tired of bein' thrown around, Major. I'm not a fuckin' frisbee! Every time I soar through the motherfuckin' air my balls retract and it takes 'em a good ten minutes to descend…”

With that, I will leave you to run off and read this fic yourself, because I, for one, cannot wait for the next update!

JaspersDestiny recommends

Long Way Down by forthelongestday

When Edward confesses his motivations for leaving Bella she realizes she cannot offer him a second chance. Her insistence for closure is met with the realization that one member of the family has no intentions of leaving her unprotected again. AU

I received this recommendation from one of our followers on Twitter, @xTullyx. Actually, she's been on a roll lately, sending us wonderful recs, so thank you, Tully!

Remember when Bella and Edward come back from Volterra, and Edward confesses to Bella how he had lied to her in the forest before leaving her? Remember how Bella forgives Edward? Remember how you screamed inside, knowing you would have totally reacted differently?

Yeah, THIS Bella does exactly what we wished we all would have done - even you Edward fans out there would agree she took him back too easily...I would hope). Bella is strong in this story, and she expects better - not only for herself, but also for her father, who suffered right along with her in New Moon. Bella makes a stand, and by doing so, she realizes the repercussions of her actions may again lose her the family she so very much longs to be a part of. forthelongestday really thinks through all of Bella's emotions - maybe her own emotions - and crafts an excellent breakdown of exactly why Bella makes such a difficult decision.

Hmm, but Bella is in for a shock at the Cullen house when she breaks the news to them, although Rosalie makes me proud in this story. Some repercussions are harder to digest, but with the help of our beloved Empath, Bella forges forward - and she begins to stand up for herself in a multitude of ways - at school, with Jacob, and even with Jasper.

And I have to say that one of my absolute favourite moments is the one in which Bella and Charlie talk about what happened in Volterra (an altered version, of course), as well as what transpired between Bella and Edward after coming home. Charlie is stunned a bit speechless - and when I write that Bella is strong in this story, I mean that she's so strong, even Charlie is left staring at her with awe. Oh, and another thing - when I write that Bella is strong, I mean that she's strong without turning into a trucker-talking, ass-kicking piece of trash (you have no idea how much I hate that kind of Bella).

Jasper... I love him to pieces in this story. Without the Cullens around, Jasper - who I suspect has always been strong in this story (ie including the back story) - sheds his previous image and unleashes his natural self. He's protective, he's loving, and he's a good friend to Bella. Their romantic relationship is going to be a slow burn in this story - we're only at Chapter 3 here - but we are treated to some beautiful moments, moments that place you in the scene with the characters, and you swear if you close your eyes, you can imagine Jasper doing those things to you:

I felt the weight of Jasper's forehead against the back of my head, and he breathed words into my hair, "I think she's afraid it would be too painful."

"What's painful is not talking to her." I closed my eyes and leaned my head back into his a little. The contact was nice, soothing. It helped to manage the pain that echoed just beneath the surface every time I thought of any of them. I had tried so hard to be okay, to not allow the events that took place last Wednesday bring me down, but it was just so much. I had come to terms with what happened after my birthday, but more recent events were harder for me to accept.

"For her, Bella...I think she's afraid it would be too painful for her if she called you."

I was being selfish, thinking I was the only one hurting. I really should call her, call Emmett, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. There was still a part of me that thought that they could have stayed, they should have stayed. Jasper did.

"It's okay to miss her, to miss them," he told me as understanding flowed out from his fingertips. "And it's okay to be angry with them, too. You don't need to feel guilty about these things."

"I can't help it. I basically told them to leave, I let them go. I have no right to be upset about it," my voice wavered and I forced a sob back. "I shouldn't be mad at them for staying with their family." I said the words even though I didn't believe them, they were just lies I told myself late at night to try and silence the hurt and anger that boiled inside me as I tried to sleep.

"You are their family too," Jasper countered. "We were all thrust between a rock and a hard place, there was no right answer that night, and I'll never stop trying to make that up to you."

The guilt he projected into me was so strong that if I hadn't had my hands braced on the counter top I would have slid to the floor. He couldn't possibly still hold himself accountable for what happened, he'd done nothing wrong.

"Don't," I said, my voice stronger that I thought I was capable of at the moment. "If I don't get to feel guilty neither do you."

Jasper propped his chin on top of my head, taking a moment to deliberate before replying, "I will never stop feeling guilty for what we've done to you, for what I've done to you—but you're right, this last time, that one's on Edward."

I reached up to lay my hands over his and squeezed tight. "Yeah, I guess it is."

Read this story now! Get into it and enjoy the journey! forthelongestday told me she has a lot of it already written, and she updates weekly so far, so it's definitely something wonderful to look forward to on a regular basis.

A little bit of Jasper gifted in your inbox each week is a beautiful thing, is it not?

Sunday Selections for August 15, 2010

IdreamofEddy recommends All Together Different by KristALchelle

The story picks up in New Moon right before Bella jumps off the cliff. Someone stops her, so Alice never sees her jump. Five years later, tragedy brings the Cullen family back to Forks to help pick up the pieces of a shattered heart. AU Contains lemons.

I found KristALchelle's story by chance. I was working over the search feature on FFn while I was at work. An hour later, I was wiping the tears away, and completely flabbergasted that I had found such a gem. It's simply wonderful.

I've yet to come across a story that starts out when Bella jumps off the cliff in New Moon that I can honestly say I like. While they are predominately Bella/Jasper stories, they just can't seem to pull it off for me because they're missing the one big denominator, and that's Jacob. He was heavily influential over her life at that point, so cutting Jacob out and throwing her into a relationship with Jasper immediately just seems wrong.

This story, however, has a unique and very original twist to the incident at the cliff, and it leads to one of the best 'after incident' nights with Jacob I've ever read. I have to admit, by the second chapter I started to get a little nervous because Bella is still hearing voices, and they are voices I was a little concerned about her hearing because it made no sense. But by the fourth chapter I realize I was probably assuming too much. There are reasons for that, so if it turns you off, keep reading.

I have never fallen in love with a Jacob like I have KristALchelle's. Simply put, it's nice to see someone give respect to the character Stephenie gave him, instead of writing him off as an asshole of epic proportions. Er, I'm one of those people, but I simply love her Jacob. I love Bella and Jacob's family. They're as solidified as they can possibly get. Their issues are relatable and their love is real.

There's a certain quality of 'realism' to this story, and it continues past the first chapter and into the next...and the next. KristALchelle is simply a superb writer. Her words flow, her detail to just the emotion of the story does not read rushed, and this fic basks in maturity. The dialogue is STRONG. I've been looking for a story like this for a long time, and I can't wait to see where she goes with it. Please, if you're not reading this fic, you need to be. It's one to really appreciate.


Merina Green recommends Worth It by Nightfairy85

Things change, that is the nature of life. After Bella and Jasper share a moment in a motel room their worlds will change forever, but will this change be worth all the pain? Bella/Jasper pairing. Rated M for language and poss. lemons.

I got hooked on this fic when it first came out because it all starts in the hotel room in Phoenix, when Jasper tells Bella she is worth it.  Only in THIS version, Jasper is interested in more than just telling her.  It sort of comes as a surprise to him, the depth of his feelings for Bella.  And in this version, things don't go down with James in quite the same way.  Instead of the dance studio, it's a dirty alleyway, and Jasper is the one to take James down - but not before James manages to bite Bella, though.

Jasper quickly explains to Bella that she has to make a choice - to go through with the change or have Jasper suck the venom out of her.  This is no out-of-control Jasper here in THIS story.  Well, he warns her there's a possibility he might drain her, but he feels pretty confident he won't because he knows he loves her.

"Bite me," she tells him.

And he obliges, thrilled with her choice.  Hell, he's probably already picking out china patterns and linens in his head, and to hell with the consequences.

Enter Edward and the rest of the Cullens, consequences in tow.  Edward throws a shit fit.  How DARE Jasper change HIS Bella?  How DARE he make that decision?

Never mind that it was Bella's choice.

So Controlward sucks the venom back out while the rest of the family lets him, and Jasper is left wondering what the hell to do next because, after all, Bella IS Edward's mate.  Right?  But he wants her for himself.  And she wanted HIM.  At least, that was HIS understanding of what had gone down between them.

What comes next is a lot of angst, heartache, and pain.  Chapters of it.  Jasper's relationship with Alice falls apart because he finds that he really does have feelings for Bella, even though he can't seem to do anything with that knowledge.  This story was first published before Aggressive Jasper became so popular.  This Jasper loves Bella and wants her to choose him over Edward.  The operative word here being 'choose'.

Bella?  Well, she's going through a rough patch.  The venom in her system has done...something...to her.  She knows it.  Jasper knows it.  Edward knows it.  Edward denies it publicly, and nobody will listen to Jasper.  And Bella keeps her mouth shut because she doesn't know what's happening to her.  Bella comes across as weak in a lot of the story, and I know people don't like that.  But I see her as what she is - a 17-year old girl who is going through something she cannot understand with nobody to guide her.  All she has is Edward, who she loves and trusts because that's what 17-year old girls do with their first love.  She has no previous betrayals in her life to recognize the one that is happening to her now.  And, well, like all controlling, abusive relationships, by the time she realizes something is terribly wrong, it's a little too late.  Welcome to reality, Bella - except your abuser happens to be an immortal vampire.  The local women's shelter isn't really an option for you, honey, and you can forget telling Daddy.  We wouldn't want him ending up as Edward's midnight snack, now would we?

Edward?  Edward, Edward, Edward.  Edward heads down a dark path.  Edward, it turns out, likes to be in control.  Edward, it turns out, likes the fact that he can do things to Bella - and nobody finds out, thanks to her limited exposure and reaction to the venom in her system.  Between her quick healing and the fear of what Edward will do to her loved ones if she says anything, well...Edward has her right where he wants her.  If you don't like reading about abuse - implied or explicit - well, go ahead and avoid this story.  Actually, I don't like abuse scenes either.  I admit that I skimmed through a lot of those parts (sorry, hon – it was not a reflection on your writing), but Nightfairy85 does them well.  They are not gratuitous violence.  They are, however, very real and violent depictions of an abusive relationship.

What, you ask, is Jasper doing during all of this?  Jasper is trying to get Bella to make a different choice - because it's all very good and well for the hero to ride in and rescue the damsel in distress, but if the damsel appears to not want to be rescued, the rescue will be for nothing.  And really, doesn't that put the rescuer on the same level as the abuser?  "I am going to steal you away because you obviously are making bad choices.  And I will make you stay with me because THAT is the RIGHT choice."  Some readers might want that to happen, but that's no healthier than staying with the abuser.  He wants to save her, he wants her to choose him, but time and again she doesn't. And he, finally...well, you have to read it.

And what are the Cullens doing?  The Cullens are being...well, they're being a typical family.  Edward is a smooth liar, and the golden-boy to boot.  Alice?  Surely dear little Alice would SEE something like that and tell them...Alice, whose husband has become enamored with his new found unreciprocated love.  Yeah, right, like THAT is going to happen.  This Alice might as well run for president of the “Get Bella out of Jasper's Life” club.  Esme and Rosalie?  Wouldn't THEY recognize the signs of abuse?  Well, Edward IS Esme's favorite son...and Rose might recognize it, or suspect it, but we're back to proof... Where is the proof?  Bella hasn't complained, there are no marks, and who is going to listen to Jasper's theory that something is going on with her?  Other than a couple little 'quirks', she's perfectly human.  Edward, after all, has reassured them all of this.  And who would doubt him?  He obviously loves her.

Right now in the story, the shit is in the process of hitting the fan.  It was a long time coming, and I really have no idea what Nightfairy85 will do next or where she's taking it all, but I want to find out.  She has written wonderful, flawed, 'human' characters, and I really, really want to know how she has them handle the nightmare they've created around them.  I feel like NOBODY is blameless in this story.  I want to slap ALL of them.  Like I said, though, I want to find out how it all works out.  I'm not holding my breath for that White Knight to magically fix everything, but you never know...  I'd settle for an angry, blond vamp with a wicked bite right now, even if he IS #2 on my 'slap upside the head' list.

Sunday Selections for 8/8/10

Jasper’s Bella recommends Visions of Our Destiny by ForksPixie

Jasper has been waiting 60 years for Alice's vision of his vampire soul-mate. What happens when she knocks on the Cullen door escorted by the Volturi Guard. Jasper/Bella. Rated M.

So I was looking for something new to read this morning and I came across this story. The summary caught me right off the bat and I couldn’t wait to dive into it. First line, Bella would love a personal stylist and would even let them use her as their own personal Barbie doll. I had to chuckle and imagine that this was going to happen probably sooner than Bella might think. Ok, so far so good.

This starts off differently because Bella doesn’t actually go to Forks like many of the other stories have her. There has been a tragedy and it erases her chance to be there. This tragedy upset me because this person has a special place in my heart. Instead, Bella ends up moving to Florida with her family. Bella starts college and then decides to go study a semester abroad….in Italy.

Honestly, this threw up red flags for me. Not because of what Bella might find, but because it sounded an awful lot like LambVamp’s story (otherwise known as Maelyn or Zaytell). I decided to give it a chance and read on. So glad I did. This is where the similarities in the stories end.

Bella arrives in Italy, finds her apartment and then goes to explore to familiarize herself with the area. While out window shopping, Bella meets a woman who offers to show her around Italy on a tour with others. Well, we all know what that means, now don’t we? Uh huh, that’s right. Vampy Heidi was fishing and reeled in little trusting and sweet smelling Bella.

In the meantime, next chapter we see Jasper at the Cullens', and a very excited Alice letting him know that his destiny will be here soon - his mate, the one whom Alice has been telling him about for the past 60 years. And thankfully, the little Pixie is married to Edward. WOOHOO!!!!!!! This means the fortune teller and the mind reader won’t get in the way. Can’t you tell I got really excited about that?

And back in Italy, Bella finally starts to wonder if this was such a good idea after all. With every doubt that she has, Heidi sweeps in and dazzles it away. They arrive at the castle for their tour and then all hell breaks loose. As Heidi is about to feed on Bella, she is stopped by Aro. Seems he wants this meal for himself. Much to his surprise, he can’t read Bella and calls for his little chihuahua, Jane, to work her magic. And….nothing. Aro of course is delighted and decides that Bella would make a great addition to the guard. Sinking his teeth into her, he pushes out the venom and BOOM, Aro is now Bella’s daddy, or so to speak. Aro has Felix take Bella to the newborn chambers. (WTF?!? Newborn chambers, that can’t be good). Felix is apparently a pretty nice guy and tells Bella to retain all her human memories so that she doesn’t forget.

Cue the Pixie’s vision and the Cullens aren’t happy campers right now, even though they really don’t know anything about Jasper’s mate.

Wakey, wakey from the burn, Bella is confused about what she is. It's a good thing she’s got her buddy, Felix, to help her. Turns out, Bella’s a pretty kick ass vamp but decides she doesn’t want to be a killer. Hunting with Felix and Demetri doesn’t exactly go as planned. Wolves seem to make tasty snacks for Bella. Seeing as Bella is determined to not follow their natural instincts of nomming on people, Aro decides to send her to the Cullens.

Now we are on the chapter where Bella and Jasper meet and it looks like its love at first sight. Jasper does the curling of his finger for her to come closer to him and gawd dayum is it hawt just thinking about it. We’re left off with Jasper and Bella going on a hunt. I can’t wait to see how that goes.

Because I was out on the boat today enjoying the sunshine, I didn’t have a chance to review any of the chapters because I wanted to get it read. Also, I was getting bitched at by the hubs and MIL for being on my phone instead of paying attention to my family. Anyhoo, I have enjoyed the hell out of this story and can’t wait for more.

JaspersDestiny recommends An Imperfect Love by mistyhaze420

After Edward leaves Bella & Alice leaves Jasper, their worlds collide. They have no one to turn to but each other for comfort and become good friends...but maybe more. But is it enough to mean forever? Graphic language, lemons in the future. J&B.

I remember when I first encountered this story and began to read it that the first chapter alone did not pull me in. I felt it was disjointed from what I would later learn about the story, but I would also realize that it was a mark of an author's apparent growth with each chapter. I felt in retrospect that Bella's 'voice' in the beginning was 'off'. So, if you have never read this story, please do not stop after reading the first chapter. What awaits you will pull you in, I have no doubt.

Also, the Jasper in this story - along with the Peter - is very reminiscent of many I have read, but at the same time, mistyhaze420 weaves a wonderful tale of two broken souls who embark on a road trip together, and in the process find incredible love.

I remember this one scene that shaped me and my thoughts on this story. I remember re-reading this one scene over and over again because to me it was just perfect. It's a scene near the beginning where Bella and Jasper are tangled together in bed in a motel room. Jasper just snuggles into Bella, and by the next morning Jasper doesn't want to let go. He pleads with Bella for five more minutes of heaven, and I just thought it was one of the sweetest things at the time.

And their journey together, as well as the growth of their love, is addictive. I couldn't put this story down, and I remember writing to mistyhaze420 because I was concerned she would lead us into heart-fail territory, thanks to the title of the story. I mean, An Imperfect Love denotes to me that while it might be good while it lasts, it wouldn't be 'good enough' to stand the test of time.

But there is no utter heart-fail here. The author brings some very interesting ideas to the table, especially with the edition of Peter, and you will be blown away by Bella and Jasper's actual history, which you learn about later on as the story progresses. And, um, the sex is amazing...ahem.

I think if you have never come across this story, you will be wonderfully surprised. Stick to it, and I know you will love it.

Maelyn recommends Broken Moonlight by wonderwoundedhearers

Jasper finds the new girl quite intriguing. With Edward recovering in Alaska & Alice watching for Edward, can Jasper get closer to Bella? Can he control himself & his bloodlust enough to fall in love? Who will Bella choose? Lemons, language & violence. Bella/Jasper Rated M

What if in Twilight Bella fell for Jasper, and not Edward? That’s the basic premise of this story. While Edward takes that leave of absence after almost killing Bella in biology, Jasper is noticing her more and more and decides to get to know her. They have a fast, whirlwind kind of courtship and fall in love immediately, which is a little fast for me, but it seems to work here. I love the story so much I can overlook that. And really, who could truly resist the Major?

Why do I love this fic? Oh, you mean besides the fact that it’s written by wonderwoundedhearers? Well, she does the second best Jasper and Peter that I’ve seen so far – the first, of course, being Kay’s originals from her fics. They are that wonderful mix of tough as nails, kick your ass if you piss me off or hurt my family type of man and the gentleman’s demeanor covering the delicious naughty side.

From day one, Jasper and Bella only have eyes for each other, and what should be a simple boy meets girl love story is fraught with obstacle after obstacle. He’s a vampire and she’s human. His family wants him to stay with his psycho wife. Said psycho wife is trying to get him back even though he’s said it’s over, quite emphatically. Creepy stalker brother develops creepy infatuation for girl. They have to run from psycho half of the family, thus causing problems with girl’s father.

The list of obstacles continue, but through it all, you see two people coming to learn about each other and fall more and more in love every moment. The obstacles do nothing but make them stronger as a couple. They face it all head on, together, as equals. Did I mention how he treats her like she has a brain? Yeah, he does. He doesn’t make her decisions for her, but rather educates her when he needs to and lets her make her own. And he doesn’t reprimand her or make her feel like a child in any other ways either. That isn’t to say it isn’t difficult for him to do some things, but he does.

I also love that they haven’t jumped right into bed, not completely anyway. There are a lot of really fun parts, but he still has a bit of bloodlust for her and makes it clear that it’s an obstacle (yeah, another one). But they discuss it and decide to take things one step at a time.

All in all I love EVERY ONE of wonderwoundedhearers fics. Well, all of her Twilight ones I’ve read. I am crazy wondering what’s going to happen in her the Peter/Bella one. The Caius/Bella one was fuckawesome and her Caius made me cry. And Aro/Bella was good too. I just...they’re all great, so go, RUN, read them all now! You won’t be sorry.

Sunday Selection for August 1, 2010

IdreamofEddy recommends Crossroads: A Family in Crisis by monroe5

Set five years after Bella and Edward's wedding the family has gone off on their seperate directions but one call from Carlisle brings them all back home where decisions about the future will be made but not before the events of the past are dealt with.

There has been a plethora of stories recommended to me by readers, by followers on Twitter, by hearsay when reading other posts on blogs, and by Lamb email fuckery. Hopefully, I'll find the time some day to read them all. I found this one on the FFn search database, which was a miraculous thing in and of itself because the fucker worked.

CFiC is a story about...well...a family in crisis. Ended relationships and broken bonds. Shocking yet forgivable mistakes. And some not so forgivable (Cough. Edward. Cough). There's tension amongst family and tension amongst those who WERE family, though no one seems to know they aren't family anymore. And then, on top of this, you've got one hell of a sexy Jasper, who doesn't overabuse the word darlin' and who's got a little taste of his canon self. Your heart can't help but just bleed for him and Bella, and you want to see the happily ever after.

I have mixed feelings with Every. Single. Chapter. One chapter, I think Bella's a fucking idiot. The next chapter, I'm not blaming her at all for the issues she's having with committing to ANYTHING. Simply put, this fic CAN make a reader emotional, especially when it comes to Bella. Not to mention Rosalie. Rosalie is pure bitch. I simply LOVE her.

monroe5 has a great ability in describing her characters emotions. And the dialogue is STRONG.

What I like most about this story is that it's a story about FAMILY, love, respect, and forgiveness. Honestly, I have to say I hope the drama element stays within the family. If you haven't picked this story up, you should. You will be amazed by the power of monroe5's words.

MissMaj recommends Paradigm Shift by LilyoftheValley77

Bella's life as a Cullen was near perfect. But what happens when Jasper and Bella return from three days away and find that everything they knew, everything that was has been changed forever?

The writer best known for her awesome fic, Slow and Steady, is now back with a new Jasper/Bella fic.

The story begins three years after Bella's change. No Renesmee exists in this world, but Edward and Bella are happily married. The entire Cullen household is filled with love and happiness, and you'd think they've all found their happy ending.

Since her change, the Cullen clan has found a new place to call home in Minnesota. Bella and Edward spent the first three years of their marriage exploring Europe, pretty much living their honeymoon to the fullest. Once back home with the family, they decide to go back to their old habits. While Edward and the rest of the younger Cullens decide on going back to high school, Bella and Jasper want to try out the college life. The two decide on going on a road trip to visit their college of their choice.

Everything works out great and both fall in love with the school of their choice. They are eager to go back home to their loved ones to share their excitement with them.

When they return to the Cullens, everything feels wrong. Something about the Cullens is...off, to say the least. Everyone in that household is so messed up that Bella and Jasper don't have a choice but to leave the family to search for answers. With that, they go to Jasper's other family, Peter and Charlotte, who are more than willing to help them any way they can so they can get back home once again to Edward and Alice and the rest of the family. Or so they hope.

It may sound shocking to those who know me, but lately I haven't been reading a lot of Jasper/Bella fics. I blame it on the Eclipse craze, but I've been reading more Edward/Bella fics than usual. But this is one of the few I always look forward to and I always get excited about when I see an update alert for this story in my inbox.

So many unanswered questions and a lot of twist and turns. I look forward to the mystery as well as Bella and Jasper's future. I'm crossing my fingers and wishing to the Twilight gods for a Bella/Jasper ending.

P.S. Can I just say how excited we are for another Jasper-filled month?

Sunday Selections for 07-11-10

Maelyn recommends Guarding Edward by katmom

A stalker is trying to get close to 24 y/o HUMAN Edward Masen, a concert pianist. He hires Elite Guardians to keep him safe and to find out who is hunting him. Bella Cullen is the owner/operator of the company AND she's a 110 y/o VAMPIRE. AU/Canon couples



For me, it’s hard to think of too many fics where the female character stands out just as much if not more than the male. As I imagine many of us do, I tend to focus on the male character. I think because I like to put myself in the female’s place. Really, what woman wouldn’t want to do that for most of these fics, right? *grins and winks*

Anyway, so when I started thinking what to recommend for this week, I thought of this little gem. It’s won and been nominated for a few awards:

Won Fan Fiction of the Month for August at Twilighters Anonymous
Won Best Supernatural Award at the Silent Tear Awards
Nominated for Best Alternate Universe WIP and Most Original Story Line WIP at the Indie TwiFic Awards, placing in the top ten of about 100 in each.

Now, you may wonder about this fic, beyond the short summary that’s listed. Think Twilight, but with a reversal of roles – Edward and Bella swap – and a little bit of a twist. I mean, who really wants to go through high school over and over again? Seriously? If you were immortal with near unlimited funds, wouldn’t you find a more fun way to spend your time?

Well, in this fic they decide it would be fun to play bodyguard, and more specifically, Edward’s bodyguard. Of course, it’s still role reversal, so when Bella first scents Edward, we come to find out he’s her singer. So there is a bit of time where that’s a little tricky to deal with, but it’s handled very well, I think.

From there, it’s full of romance, drama, intrigue, mystery and more. You wonder what is going on, what will happen next, who is after Edward, etc. Then there is the whole Edward finding out about vampires, his change, etc. Due to a confrontation to occur late in the story, they have to desensitize Edward from blood fast, and the author finds the most ingenious way, I thought. I quite liked that little twist.

And, of course, there is Bella. She is nearly 100 and has been happy with her life, spending it with her family and delving into their current business as bodyguards. But, of course, when she meets Edward she finds everything she was missing, now understanding the bond the others share with their mates. This didn’t make her weak, not having her mate, just ignorant, if you will.

But really, she is a strong woman. She knows her strengths and has learned to take what life gives her and make the best of it. She finds what she wants and goes after it. That is what you have to admire about this Bella. It was her idea to start the current business and she’s been having a great time doing it, and doing it really well. I love seeing a confident, secure Bella. She still has her insecurities and vulnerabilities, just as everyone does, but I don’t get that feeling of wanting to smack her upside the head like I do with canon Bella sometimes.

So really, check out this fic. It’s interesting in both characterization and plot and I think you’ll like it.

JaspersDestiny recommends The University of Edward Masen by SebastienRobichaud

Edward Masen is the selfish and brooding university professor; Bella Swan is his shy, but determined graduate student. Appearances can be deceiving. Have their paths crossed before? Rated M for good reason, all human, canon pairings, AU, OOC, ExB



I came upon this story whilst lurking my Twitter feed. At this point I can't remember if it was torsstupidmouth of ADF or Twilight Awards (perhaps Ysar) who tweeted out the fact that the story was causing that individual to perish due to laughter, but I clicked the link nevertheless just to "see" the reason why. Who knows? It could have been a crack fic for all I knew, and I would have read a bit, and then moved on my merry little way.

What I was brought to was The University of Edward Masen. I almost clicked the little 'x' in the upper right hand corner when I saw the title name - who's kidding who here, people? I NEVER read Edward/Bella fics. You all know that. I avoided Edward month like the plague. Granted, I was being a busy beta at the time, but still. Excuses, excuses…

But...I decided to read the first little bit. And then I read some more. And then I made a cup of tea...and read some more. And then I avoided phone calls from my mother...because I couldn't stop reading. This story is like a drug. I can't put it away, and I sit on my couch all shifty-eyed, waiting for Jasper readers to come bleach my brain out for my sacrilege.

This story takes place in Toronto - my city, my hometown, my love. It takes place at The University of Toronto - my alma mater *waves hi to Woodsworth College*. So, it's easy to become wrapped up in a story I can relate to geographically, for one. But most importantly, I can't tear my eyes away from our protagonists, Edward and Bella. Both Bella and Edward hail from Forks, but Edward is now a Professor of Italian Studies - specifically a Dante specialist - at UofT, and Bella is his graduate student.

Now, SebastienRobichaud's profile page tells you that "UOEM is a story about suffering, love, sin and redemption that takes its narrative cues from Dante's Divine Comedy." I, however, have no inkling about Dante or his work, other than the fact that he wrote The Divine Comedy. But you do not need to have any background knowledge to be able to enjoy this beautiful story. In fact, read a little, learn a lot, my friends. And I am left fascinated by the way SR has paralleled Edward and Bella to Dante and his love, Beatrice.

Edward is a cold, distant, bastard of a man, who believes he is without salvation. He likens himself to all of the Seven Deadly Sins - lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride - while he holds Bella to all of The Seven Virtues - chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, humility. But neither Edward nor Bella hold all of one group of traits. As human beings, they encompass a myriad of both - Edward, more so while in Bella's presence. I flew over to Wikipedia (yes, excellent source for information, I know...but still) to read about Beatrice, and I found something that seems to fit in line with the way I see Bella and Edward’s relationship over time:

The manner in which Dante chose to express his love for Beatrice often agreed with the Middle Ages concept of courtly love. Courtly love was a secret, unrequited and highly respectful form of admiration for another person. Yet it is still not entirely clear what caused Dante to fall in love with Beatrice. Since he knew very little of the real Beatrice, and that he had no great insight to her character, it is perhaps unusual that he did. But he did, and there are clues in his works as to why:

"She has ineffable courtesy, is my beatitude, the destroyer of all vices and the queen of virtue, salvation."

Dante saw Beatrice as a saviour, one who removed all evil intentions from him. It is perhaps this idea of her being a force for good that he fell in love with, a force which he believed made him a better person.

Edward and Bella met once, many years before, in Forks after Bella arrives to the Cullen home only to find the family in emotional ruin, thanks to Edward. She finds him drunk on the back patio, and she and Edward proceed to spend an evening together in the ubiquitous meadow. This sets the scene for their 'medieval courtship' because they do not see each other again until Bella becomes his student years later. With Edward, too, it is not entirely clear what caused him to fall in love with Bella (or she for him) because neither knows very much about the REAL other. But Bella unknowingly saved Edward that night in the meadow, and Edward has admired Bella from 'afar' ever since - she is his brown-eyed angel, his Beatrice, pure in body and soul. And Bella, too, has held fast to her Dante, placing him on this pedestal she has created for him because she ‘knows’ of his inner beauty, his virtues, and deep down WANTS to be his saviour. Edward ruined all other men for Bella with just that one night’s experience, and she wants to bring to life that man she met so many years before. But life has altered Edward, and he is not entirely the same damaged soul she met years before. Oh, he is there, but it is she who will be his salvation again and coax that beauty out of him once more.

I didn't say it would be pretty, though. Edward is a destroyer, and time will tell (for me, since I have only read up to Chapter 15 so far) if Edward destroys his Beatrice in the process of his salvation.

Now, UoEM is not a story that needs any introduction to many Edward fans, I’m sure. Apparently, it is HUGELY popular. And while I tend to not recommend ridiculously popular stories, in favour of the lesser known, I think I would be doing a disservice to non-Edward fans if I didn’t recommend it here.

Oh, and to hark back to torsstupidmouth’s or Twilight Awards’ mention of this story’s sense of humour – yes, it is ridiculously funny at times. SR has a wonderful sense of humour – in one chapter, the author’s note indicates “There is lemon rind in this chapter. You've been warned.” Ha ha ha, SR. Very funny… But, really, this story is just…so many different things all wrapped up into one big disaster of a love story, and I love it – every single chapter.

Read it.

*scampers off to Chapter 16*