Miracles & Michief by Esme Mom Cullen @OhMyCarlisle

Rating: M

WIP

Genre: Romance/Family

Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7067588/1/Miracles_and_Mischief

This is one of those rare gems you stumble on in fan fiction, a well written, beautiful story with so much promise and potential. I had my reservations before reading this story, but after the first chapter I was hooked. Now originally this was a one/shot, an award winning one/shot, but the author decided to make it a full length multi-chapter story. The best decision she made if I do say so myself.

M&M is a tale of longing, hope, and surprise - entwined with a miracle that will warm your heart and leave you smiling for days. The author is truly gifted in capturing the canon characters of Carlisle and Esme, often I have to remind myself that this is fan fiction and not some lost treasure by S. Meyer.  The way the author encompasses the spirit and nature of the Cullen family is truly fantastic, she has the dynamic of the clan to absolute perfection. This is the author who converted me to loving Esme and Carlisle stories, she brought the characters to life and made them a far better canon option than Edward and Bella could ever be.

I highly recommend this story, it is a real masterpiece and not one to be missed.

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Alone by @BoydBlog & Leather And Lace by @Sydney_Alice

I know this is well overdue, but I've had some medical issues lately which have prevented me from doing much of anything. Today is a good day...so far.

Back in August and September I hosted a contest called the 80's Power Ballad Song Prompt Contest: Twilight Edition. We had a total of 19 stories entered. Every single story was amazing.  I was completely overwhelmed by the talent of the authors who entered. My 4 judges had a very difficult task ahead of them with scoring each story. In the end all the scores were tallied and we had 3 definite judge's choice winners.

Public vote was a little trickier.  At the end of the public vote, I ended up with a 2-way tie for first, a 2-way tie for second, and a 3-way tie for third place. So, I ultimately had to leave voting open for a couple more days which finally broke the tie and gave me 3 public vote winners.

I also chose a few special category winners based off the judges scores and which stories were my favorites that I felt deserved a little recognition that didn't place in judges or public vote. It was a very hard choice for me, because I truly wanted to give every single story some recognition. Like I said, every story was amazing.

Like I promised, the two top winners from judge's vote and public vote are being featured today.

Public Vote 1st place winner was Alone by BoydBlog 

Pairing: Bella and Edward

Rating: M

Status: Oneshot

Genre: Angst/Romance

Summary: I didn't really mind being alone. Nit until I met him. Now, he's all I want. I just need to tell him. How can I get him alone?

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7408695/1/

This story actually made me cry. It's a beautiful story about heartache, pain, love, friendship, and difficult choices.  It starts out with Bella infatuated with her neighbor who has a girlfriend.  She watches from afar and imagines she's that girl.  She even comes up with these scenarios about why the girl comes over, stays for most of the night, and then suddenly leaves looking angry and upset.  Bella is sure this girl is no good for her neighbor and she would be the better choice.  She wants to tell him but doesn't know how.  After this girl stops coming around, Bella runs into a new guy named Edward.  She finds out Edward is her neighbor's brother and he has moved in with him for a while.  She also finds out that her elusive neighbor's name is Jasper.  Edward and Bella become fast friends and suddenly, she's thrown into this world of a close friendship with these two men; One of which she has been infatuated with for so long and the other who she is suddenly becoming very attracted to and can't help but think he feels the same way.  However, there's something about the two of them that is still so much of a mystery to her.  Will she ever find someone who will love her or will she be alone forever?

Judges Choice 1st place winner was Leather And Lace by SydneyAlice

Paring: Bella and Edward

Rating: M

Status: Oneshot

Genre: Romance

Summary: A rodeo cowboy reconnects with the love he left behind.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7408196/1/Leather_and_Lace

This was also a beautiful story about love and making those hard choices in life.  Bella took over ownership of her late father's ranch and does everything to keep it running.  Edward is a rodeo cowboy who is on the road all the time.  When he comes into town, he goes to Bella.  It's always the same for her: he'd come, he'd stay for a few days, and then he'd leave again.  It was hard for her knowing there were women throwing themselves at him every single night and knowing she had no guarantee he was being faithful to her no matter how many times he insisted she was the only one.  She doesn't care, though.  She loves him and trusts him more than anything.  On one of his visits Edward makes a decision that will change both of their lives forever.  How will Bella react to the sudden request of the man she loves?

Here is a list of all the winners:

Public Vote 
1st place: Alone by BoydBlog
2nd place: Leather And Lace by SydneyAlice
3rd place: We Belong Together by venusenvy626

Judges Choice
1st place: Leather And Lace by SydneyAlice
2nd place: Love Kills by busymommy
3rd place: Alone by BoydBlog

Special Category Winners
Tear Jerker Award: One Night by branchirps
Most Original Plot: Dude Looks Like A Lady by cherieblossum
Cliffhanger Award: Will I See You Tonight by J.D. Wolf

All banners for this contest were made by the lovely Christag_banners

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Moonlit by Stormdragonfly ( @CrystalWL )

Rating: M
WIP
Pairing: Bella/Carlisle
Genre: Romance/Drama
Summary: When Bella returns to the town she hasn't lived in since she was eight, she's intrigued by the Cullens more than she realizes. As she matures and starts to consider the weight of choice and morals, she realizes there is one man who's always there for her.

Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5783500/1/Moonlit

It's Twilight with an edge, it's the what could have been if S Meyer had decided to take the story in a different direction. Many of use in the fan fiction realm write the answers to the "what if" questions, either as a way of venting out frustrations over the saga, or as a curious experiment. Moonlit steps over the tradition "what if" boundries and create a new level to Twilight Fan Fic that has never been done before. The main elements stay the same, but there is a difference in the goings on and how things pan out. Carlisle is unattached while Esme is and not in the way you'd expect. Edward possesses feelings for Bella, but they are slightly different and are such that any diehard Edward/Bella shipper would be pleased. The plot is a slow burn that grows warmer and warmer with each and every chapter, it's oddy frustrating because you can see just what a perfect match the two main characters are for each other.

Written in the third person, Moonlit offers a more rounded approach to the "Twilight saga" where we learn of Rosalie's human and vampire life, the reason behind her nature. Carlisle's origin and how the Cullen clan came about. There are no plotholes in this fic.

StormDragonFly is one of those rare author with a real passion for writing and storytelling. It's so very clear if you've ever read one of her stories, and she has written a few.

Moonlit is a wonderful story and I highly recommend it.

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How to Paint a House by Maggie's Gutter

How to Paint a House by Maggie’s Gutter

Rated: M

Story Type: WIP – currently on chapter 13

Summary: Bella Swan is a naive fifteen year old, set to spend another kiss-less summer alone. Edward is new to town, and doesn't know a soul. Watch an unlikely friendship blossom over the simple task of painting a house. But for these two, nothing is simple.

Link: How to Paint a House on FFN

Lately I’ve been more focused on my own writing than on reading all the fics that are currently on my TBR list, but after seeing tweet after tweet about people gushing over this story, I finally relented and figured I’d see what all the fuss was about.

Well, if you take a gallon of teen angst, add a dash of Bella Swan Blue, two dollops of Senior Edward Cullen green you get a lovely story about what it is to grow up and change during your teenage years. About gaining new friends, losing some who you’ve been friends with your whole life, and expanding your view on life tenfold.

Bella’s a fifteen year old sophomore who’s suddenly finding herself a little bit of an outcast. Her best friend has grown up, seemingly overnight, and left Bella for gossip, boys and bikinis. Charlie accidentally breaks his leg while trying to paint their house over the summer. Thankfully a new resident happens to have a teenage son who’s been bored out of his mind. Insert Edward as the helpful neighbor’s son into Bella’s tiny world, and suddenly she too begins to understand Angela’s new interest in boys.

The story is told from Bella’s point of view, and it really does feel like her words, thoughts and actions are coming from a sixteen year old. Not in the depth and maturity in the writing, but rather her POV feels accurate to the age.

Maggie’s Gutter’s Edward is so charming and delicious, I had a hard time not cursing when I finished the most recent chapter.

Give it a try, you’ll wish your next house painting endeavor was this flirt worthy.

Until next time,

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Rosalie's Baby By Mortissues

WIP

AU New Moon

Pairing: Eventual Bella/Jasper

Genre: Family/Humor

Rating: M

Links: Story and Author

Fanfiction.com summary: Romantically you dream of who will save you from your agony, care enough to return for the one left behind. Truly I must be cursed . . . .

The story is marked as Family/Humor - Bella, and it is the best way to describe it, but it is also about friendship and romance, with a little action in there as well.

I really enjoy Mortissues writing, having read her 3 part Whitlock Saga, and Rosalie’s Baby is living up to my expectations. Her stories are well written and funny, with good pacing and dialogue, both things that I find make a story hard to read if not done right.

After Jasper voices his concerns about Victoria’s probable return, the family votes against going back to Bella, deciding to stay out of her life for good. Although this is seemingly the result she would prefer, Rosalie heads back to Forks behind the family’s back. Not from any feelings of affection for Bella, but because she has this annoying sense of responsibility.

I don’t usually read Rosalie stories, and in some of the fics I’ve read she is usually a background character at best, or if she does play a larger role she is often wildly out of character. But I think I’m going to see what else is out there, if one person can do this good a job of her, there must be others right? It also means I’ll be able to get more Emmett in my fic diet.

“If I concentrate real hard I can just about summon up some memories of being a teenage girl and I'm pretty sure the way she's behaving is several degrees off normal. Em thinks so too and is lobbying hard for an intervention. I'd like to intervene too but according to him shaking her by the neck until her teeth rattle doesn't constitute helping and may actually be detrimental to her health.”

She’s still snarky and mean, but she’s also the best friend Bella could ask for. Not pussyfooting around the human, or treating her like a child, but letting her make her own decisions. Even if they are wrong.

Peter and Charlotte also show up early on, and they are always a lot of fun to have around.

Currently at 48 chapters, we have just witnessed Bella as a vampire for the first time from Rosalie’s point of view. Her fist word as a vampire? Cake.


It makes me laugh, and I’ll continue to read the updates as soon as they arrive in my inbox.


Till next time,

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The Count of Tuscany by @Wythanie

Pairing: Edward/Bella
Rate: M
Genre: General/Drama
Vampire/Human
WIP
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6464496/1/The_Count_of_Tuscany

Summary: "She gets kidnapped, he gets killed, but..." This was the Princess Bride plot, not necessarily mine. If you're expecting vitamin C from this, sorry, you'll get scurvy. However, there may be gore. I hope.


There are many things one could say about this story, surprising, brilliant, a work of literary genius, and a true gem in the realm of canon Twilight fan fiction. It has all the elements needed for a truly great story, and this is without the raunchy smut. Bella Swan has been kidnapped by the Volturi and in hiding, pretty straight forward.  Edward and the Cullen clan are desperate to find her and return her safely home to dear old Charlie. In the midst of their search an unlikely friendship develops between Edward and lovable Seth Clearwater, eventually the pair of them end up in Volterra with the ever-so-charming Aro and the Volturi coven. Drama and chaos ensues resulting in Edward being placed under six feet of concrete with only the thoughts of the Volturi members to keep him company, and eventually drive him to madness. At some point you begin to wonder whether the author genuinely likes Edward or not, especially considering she allows the most dreadful things to happen to the poor soul.  The Count of Tuscany is addictive, comical, edge of your seat, nail biting, throw your hands up in the air with frustration kind of story, yes readers, it is THAT good.

The writing is flawless, indeed it could even put Ms. Meyer herself to shame, the layout of the plot and portrayal of the characters is perfection, with a perfect balance of admiringly good coupled together with the  deliciously evil. This is one story you do not want to miss.

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Without You by @KatieCav1989

Without You by KatieCav

Pairing: Emmett/Rose

Rating: T

Warning:  Death & mourning

Summary: Sometimes life just isn't fair. Things happen that you never would have expected to happen to you or your loved ones. The aftermath is often as devastating as the loss itself. Is Rose strong enough?

Link: Without You - FFN

Yesterday was not a good day for me.  Every year for the last decade or so, I mourn the loss of a loved one who died rather suddenly.  The date will forever be ingrained in my soul as the day I didn’t arrive fast enough to say my goodbyes.  To tell them of my eternal love, my gratitude for them being in my life and affecting it so profoundly. 

Now I suppose you are asking yourself how this relates to the story I’m reviewing.  Some days you want to read a fic that moves you.  Makes you laugh, makes you cry or makes you want to strangle Edward for being an idiot.

Well today I’m reviewing KatieCav’s story Without You.  It is a moving tale of Emmett, a career soldier who for the love of his country and duty he answers the call, and one day he just doesn’t make it home.  The story is sad, but in its sadness is a real truth behind mourning the loss of someone who you never had a chance to say all the things you wanted to say.  Katie managed to show how Rose’s mourning takes over her life, how every time she turns around there’s a reminder of the life she used to have, not the shell it’s become.

“But no matter how much she talked, she still felt trapped in a deep, dark, endless hole one that she couldn't see a way out of.”

If you are looking for a quick but powerful read, give this one a try.  It moved me to tears and helped remind me that even though we lose people we love, they are never really gone.

Until next time,

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